Gloria Orwoba Fined, Barred From Defaming Nyegenye

Nairobi, Kenya — A Nairobi magistrate’s court has ordered former senator Gloria Orwoba to issue a public apology and pay substantial damages to Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye over a sustained defamation campaign.

Magistrate Ngotho directed Orwoba to publish the apology within 30 days on her official Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, as well as in a newspaper of national circulation. The wording of the apology must be approved by Nyegenye beforehand.

The court awarded Nyegenye Ksh.5 million in general damages and an additional Ksh.1 million in aggravated damages. The latter amount will attract interest if the apology is not published within the 30-day window. All awarded amounts will accrue interest from the date of the judgment until full payment is made.

In a strongly worded ruling, Magistrate Ngotho condemned Orwoba’s handling of the legal process, stating, “The conduct of the Defendant has been casual, aimed at protracting this litigation and failing to comply with the court’s directions.” The magistrate cited this behavior in justifying the aggravated damages.

Nyegenye filed the lawsuit in September 2023, accusing Orwoba of repeatedly publishing defamatory posts, as well as circulating disparaging audio and video clips targeting him on social media. The content was widely shared by third parties, amplifying the harm caused.

The court also issued a permanent injunction barring Orwoba and her associates from publishing or republishing any defamatory material about Nyegenye in the future.

This ruling marks a significant legal victory for Nyegenye and reinforces the judiciary’s stance on online defamation and character assassination by public figures.