In his judgment seen by Magistrate Ruguru Ngotho determined that the allegations shared across the platforms were malicious against Nyegenye.

"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 on her Facebook page and her X handle concerning the plaintiff are defamatory, libellous and malicious,” the magistrate said.

The court ordered Orwoba to compensate Nyegenye in tranches, beginning with KSh 8 million for general damages and another KSh 2.5 million for additional harm caused to the clerk through the libellous social media postings.

She would hence settle Nyegenye a total of KSh 10.5 million.

"The defendant is to pay the plaintiff a sum of KSh 8 million as general damages; the defendant is to further pay to the plaintiff a sum of KSh 2.5 million as exemplary and aggravated damages," the judgment read further.

Besides the compensation, the court sanctioned a public apology from Orwoba within 30 days after the judgment.

The apology, as directed by the court, would be shared on the platforms on which the alleged defamation was carried out and in a national newspaper; failure to which she would be fined an additional KSh 1 million.

The court also issued an injunction against Orwoba and her associates, barring them from posting anything against Nyegenye again.

"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 https://www.facebook.com/GloriaOrwoba and her X handle and in a newspaper of national circulation within 30 days of this judgment," the magistrate ruled.

Reacting to the judgment, Orwoba vowed to appeal against it.

She held that the issues she raised against Nyegenye were never investigated.

"My claims are still on the table. I have written an official letter to the Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission, Mr Moses Wetang'ula, the Speaker of the National Assembly. They ignored my letter. I have complained within the powers that be, including to the Speaker. They have ignored all my complaints," she said.

The politician maintained that her woes started when she turned down alleged sexual advances by Nyegenye.

She claimed that Nyegenye, in retaliation for her rejection of the said advances, locked her out of the Senate's official trips and legislative agendas.

The politician said she would be seeking redress in a higher court, where she hopes her grievances will be taken into account.

"I am a believer of the judicial system, and I do believe that, as much as there are many legal loopholes that criminals, rapists, and murderers are using to win cases, I do believe in the judicial system. That is why I have placed an appeal. I am going to appeal this judgment that has come out," she said.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke