SENATOR GLORIA ORWOBA ORDERED TO PAY 10.5M IN DAMAGES AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF DEFAMATION

Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has been ordered to pay Ksh 10.5 million in damages to Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye after the Milimani Commercial Court found she defamed him through a series of malicious social media posts accusing him of sexual harassment.
While delivering judgment on Monday, July 14, Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho declared that Orwoba’s statements, published on her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, and X, were false, defamatory, libelous, and malicious. Further, the court found that the posts, which accused Nyegenye of sexual harassment, were not protected by parliamentary privilege and were made with ill intent.
“The words posted and published by the Defendant concerning the Plaintiff are defamatory, libelous, and malicious,” the magistrate ruled. Consequently, the court awarded Nyegenye Ksh8 million in general damages and Ksh2.5 million in exemplary and aggravated damages
Also, he will be awarded Ksh1 million in default damages if Orwoba fails to issue a public apology within 30 days, on her social platforms and in a national newspaper. In addition, a permanent injunction was issued, barring Orwoba or her associates from publishing any further defamatory statements against the Clerk.