A Milimani Commercial Court has ordered former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba to pay Ksh10.5 million in damages to Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyengenye over defamatory remarks made on social media. The court found that Orwoba had published false, libellous, and malicious statements accusing Nyengenye of sexual harassment via her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, and ‘X’ account.
According to the ruling, Orwoba is required to pay Ksh8 million in general damages and an additional Ksh2.5 million as exemplary and aggravated damages. The court further directed her to issue a suitable public apology, subject to Nyengenye’s approval, within 30 days of the judgment.
The apology must be published across the same platforms used to disseminate the defamatory content — her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, ‘X’ handle and in a newspaper with nationwide circulation. If Orwoba fails to comply with the directive within the stipulated time, she will be required to pay an extra Ksh1 million in damages.
The judgement also issued a permanent injunction restraining Orwoba, her agents, or any bloggers affiliated with her from making or disseminating any further defamatory statements against the Senate Clerk.
The court found that the accusations made by Orwoba were motivated by malice and aimed at damaging Nyengenye’s personal and professional reputation. The judgement noted that the defamatory content had subjected the Senate Clerk to widespread public scorn and ridicule, severely affecting his dignity and standing as a public official.
Nyengenye testified that the allegations had significantly tarnished his image not just in his capacity as a public servant, but also in his personal roles as a husband and father. He claimed that the online publications had caused him emotional distress and damaged his professional credibility as an advocate and legal practitioner.
The court agreed with these assertions, concluding that Orwoba’s conduct was intended to scandalise, embarrass, and ruin Nyengenye’s career and reputation. The verdict emphasised the lasting damage caused by defamatory social media posts, especially when targeted at high-ranking public officers.
In closing, the court reiterated the importance of responsible use of digital platforms and warned against weaponising social media to spread falsehoods for personal vendettas.
