Former nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba has been ordered by the Milimani Commercial Court to pay Ksh10.5 million in damages to Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye after the court found her guilty of defaming him online.
The judgment was delivered on Monday by Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho, who ruled that Orwoba had shared defamatory and malicious content across her WhatsApp status, Facebook page, and her X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to the court ruling, Orwoba made serious accusations against the Senate Clerk, claiming that he had sexually harassed her. The court found that these accusations were false, shared with malicious intent, and ultimately harmed Nyegenye’s personal and professional reputation.
It was also established that the comments were not protected under parliamentary privilege, which usually shields lawmakers from legal action over statements made in the course of their official duties.
As part of the judgment, Nyegenye was awarded Ksh8 million in general damages and an additional Ksh2.5 million for exemplary and aggravated damages.
The court also ordered Orwoba to issue a public apology within 30 days. Should she fail to comply, she will be required to pay an extra Ksh1 million as a penalty.
Furthermore, the court issued a permanent injunction barring Gloria Orwoba and her associates from making or publishing any further defamatory statements about the Senate Clerk.
The case traces back to 2023, when Orwoba posted explosive allegations on Facebook. In her post, she claimed that Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye had made sexual advances toward her, and when she refused, he retaliated.
Her statement read:
“Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye solicited for sexual favours from me… and once I refused… the retaliation began.”
The accusations triggered a drawn-out legal battle. Through his lawyers, Nyegenye demanded a retraction and public apology, stating that the allegations were not only untrue but deeply damaging to his character. A restraining order was later issued, stopping Orwoba from posting more defamatory content.
During the court proceedings, the magistrate pointed out that Orwoba had failed to provide any concrete evidence to support her claims.
“It was incumbent upon her to go the extra mile to justify her statements. She did not,” Magistrate Ngotho remarked in the judgment.
Nyegenye’s legal team also presented evidence showing the emotional toll the accusations had taken on him and his family. His lawyer stated that the defamatory remarks had caused significant mental anguish, tarnished his reputation, and affected his family life.
This ruling serves as a strong reminder about the responsibilities individuals bear when making public accusations online.
The court emphasized that freedom of expression does not extend to spreading false, damaging statements about others without credible proof.
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