Ababu Namwamba donates Ksh 9 million won in defamation case to charity

GENERAL Ababu Namwamba donates Ksh 9 million won in defamation case to charity

Abigael Wafula 12:38 - 24.12.2023

Sports CS Ababu Namwamba has donated the Ksh 9 million awarded to him after winning a lawsuit to charity.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Friday, December 22, won a defamation case against Standard Media Group and was awarded a total of Ksh 9 million in damages by High Court Judge Dorah Chepkwony.

As he celebrated his birthday on Saturday, Namwamba released a statement noting that he will donate the Ksh 9 million to charity.

Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya WhatsApp Channel for more news.

In the statement, Namwamba said: “May the Ksh 9 million awarded to me as damages serve as yet another stark lesson to journalists and the media to maintain fidelity to the straight and narrow of responsible reporting anchored on fact and not actuated by malice or recklessness.

“Today, on my birthday, I donate the entirety of the Ksh 9 million to charity. As Ababu Namwamba Foundation (ANF) marks its 20th anniversary, its Board of Trustees will receive the money to establish a revolving endowment fund to support fees for vulnerable students and to empower transformative youth initiatives.”

Meanwhile, the lawsuit centered around an article in The Nairobian, a publication owned by The Standard, which insinuated a close relationship between Namwamba and a family member.

At the time, Namwamba filed the case jointly with his brothers John, Thomas, Peter Okochi Adochi, and Pastor John Osimbo.

The court only granted damages to the CS, stating that his brothers lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the suit since they were not explicitly mentioned in the publication.

Justice Chepkwony found that the editors of The Nairobian acted maliciously in publishing the article. She noted that the article had severely damaged the reputation of the Namwamba family.

The widespread sharing of the article online had put his reputation at risk, especially considering his role as a senior government official in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

In his lawsuit, Namwamba had sought Ksh50 million in general damages, Ksh12 million in punitive and exemplary damages, and an additional Ksh5 million in aggravated damages.

The court awarded him Ksh5 million in general damages, Ksh3 million in aggravated damages, and Ksh1 million in exemplary damages.

Tags: