Aldai MP Marinne Kitany has won sh 8.5 million in a suit seeking damages for defamation against the Nation Media Group and journalist Peter leftie on a story the newspaper published on 19 and 20 October 2014.
“The defendants shall pay the Plaintiff the General Damages of Sh 6,500,000 and Aggravated Damages of Sh 2,000.000,” read the ruling by Principal Magistrate S.K Onjoro in a ruling delivered on the 20th June 2025.
The media group was also ordered to permanently remove the story titles, “Mystery Over Corruption Claims Against Ruto Aide”.
Ms Kitany had in her application sought sh 15 million in general damages and Sh 10 million in exemplary damages.
The plaintiff had pleaded that on the said dates the media group published false, unsubstantiated, and disparaging statements leading the public to believe that she was corrupt, unethical, unscrupulous, and unprofessional.
The article alleged that she had misappropriated Sh 200 million and abused her office when at the time of the publication she was holding a prominent public office as the Chief of Staff.
“The impugned articles were front page headlines in widely circulated national newspapers and was also published online with a wide Global reach. The Plaintiff also sought an order for a full and unqualified apology, amendments, and withdrawal of the publications. Given the time that has elapsed since the publications, a monetary award is more appropriate to vindicate the Plaintiff’s reputation. However, the Defendants are hereby ordered to remove the impugned articles from their online platforms permanently,” read the ruling.
Whilst making the ruling, the Magistrate relied on precedence including on the Johnson Evan Gicheru v Andrew Morton & Another [2005] where the award was Sh. 6m in general damages as well as Kenneth Okoki Dindi v Standard Limited [2015] where Sh 5m in general damages and sh 1m in exemplary damages, totaling sh 6m was awarded.
Adan Keynan Wehliye v Standard Limited & another [2020] sh 4m in general damages for a sitting Member of Parliament, Patrick Nyoike v Linus Gitahi & another [2020] sh 5m as general damages and sh 1m as aggravated damages also informed the decision
Lastly, the Madanji v Nairobi Star Publication Limited [2023] sh 3m in general damages and sh 1m as aggravated damages.
The ruling is a big win for the Aldai MP and a pointer to the need for factual and verified reporting by Kenya’s legacy media.
