- Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma celebrated the High Court’s decision to award him KSh 11 million
- Kaluma moved to the High Court and sued Standard Media Group for an article published in one of its publications, The Nairobian
- The vocal ODM lawmaker shared a statement, explaining how he will use the money awarded to him by the court
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi – Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma has won a major defamation case against the Standard Media Group.
Source: Facebook
The ODM lawmaker had moved to the High Court and sued the media house for an article published in one of its publications, The Nairobian, that entangled his family.
In a ruling delivered by Justice T.W. Ouya on Thursday, November 13, the media house was ordered to pay Kaluma KSh 11 million in damages.
In his ruling, Justice Ouya said the article published by The Nairobian infringed on the privacy of Kaluma’s two children.
“I find that an award of Ksh10 million would be sufficient in light of the fact that the privacy of the plaintiff’s two children was also infringed, each in their individual capacity, by the said publication and inflation due to the passage of time,” the ruling seen by TUKO.co.ke read in part.
The judge further ordered the media house to pay the ODM lawmaker KSh1 million for refusing to apologise.
“In this matter, I do find that having had an opportunity to apologise but failed to do so, the defendant was in effect grandstanding and therefore acted improperly. I do find that failure to apologise when demanded justifies an award of damages. With such determination, I do award the plaintiff exemplary damages in the sum of KSh1 million,” Justice Ouya said.
How will Peter Kaluma use KSh 11 million?
Taking to his social media page, Kalum celebrated the ruling but said he will appeal so that the amount is increased.
The Homa Bay Town lawmaker promised to donate the amount awarded to him to a charity of his choice.
He vowed to file another suit against the media house for the continued publication of the defamatory article.
“The Nairobian, a tabloid of The Standard, wrote a false and defamatory article referring to me and my family. The High Court has ordered Standard to pay me KSh 11,000,000 plus costs and interest for defamation in their Nairobian newspaper.
Source: Twitter
“I will appeal to have the amount increased to a level commensurate with the damage done to my reputation and my family by the publication. Once paid, I will donate the money to a charity of my choice. I will file a new suit for the continued publication of the defamatory article,” Kaluma said.
What Robert Alai said about defamation case
In other news, Kileleshwa Member of County Assembly (MCA) Robert Alai responded to a defamation case filed against him by veteran broadcaster Fred Ombachi Machoka.
In court documents seen by TUKO.co.ke, Alai now says he is not behind a Facebook page alleged to have defamed Machoka.
He told the court that he does not operate the Facebook page under the name Robert Alai, where the alleged defamatory statements were posted.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
