Ex-nominated senator Gloria Orwoba fined Sh10.5million for defaming Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye
A Nairobi Court has ordered former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba to pay Sh10.5 million as damages for defaming Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye.
In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho declared that the former nominated Senator was guilty of defaming the Senate clerk through her post on social media pages.
“In the end, I pronounce myself as follows; a declaration is hereby issued that the words posted and published and circulated by the defendant on her WhatsApp status mobile number 0728xxxxx and her Facebook page and her X handle concerning the plaintiff are defamatory, libelous and malicious,” Ngotho ruled.
He awarded Nyegenye Sh8 million for general damages and an additional Sh2.5 million for aggravated damages incurred by Nyegenye.
“The defendant is to pay the plaintiff a sum of Ksh8,000,000/= as general damages; the defendant is to further pay to the plaintiff a sum of Ksh2,500,000/= as exemplary and aggravated damages,” he ordered.
The magistrate ordered Orwoba to further issue a public apology on her WhatsApp status, Facebook, X account, and in a newspaper of national circulation within 30 days or pay Sh1 million for the same as a fine.
“The defendant is ordered to render a suitable and fitting apology in terms approved by the plaintiff. The apology is to be published on her WhatsApp status, mobile number 0728370xxx and her Facebook page, and her X handle, and in a newspaper of national circulation within 30 days of this judgment. In default of rendering an apology as ordered, the Defendant shall pay an additional Ksh1,000,000/= in damages,” the judgment further read.
The former lawmaker was also issued with a permanent injunction restraining her and her agents from publishing any further defamatory statements against Nyegenye.
The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by Nyegenye in September 2023, accusing Orwoba of sharing false and damaging claims alleging he solicited sexual favors from her.
In his petition to the court, Nyegenye shared that Orwoba posted a photo of Nyegenye on her social media platforms with the caption:
“How do people who solicit sex in the workplace look like? We must safeguard women in the workplace at all times. #NoSexForWork.”
Orwoba later shared a video accusing Nyegenye of retaliation after she allegedly rejected his advances.
However, the court found no evidence to substantiate the claims by the former legislator.
But taking to her Facebook page, Orwoba said her legal team will appeal the ruling, saying her claims were never investigated by either the Senate or the National Assembly.
