New Twist in Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru’s Defamation Suit against Google

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru wants the court to grant her more time to serve Google with court papers in a defamation suit.

In a suit where she is seeking compensation for an alleged defamatory article against her published by a Kenyan blogger in 2014, Waiguru wants the judge to give her more time to enable her serve Google in the US.

Through her attorney, the former Devolution Cabinet Secretary requested High Court Justice Lucy Njuguna for a one-year extensive period to enable her serve court papers to California-based internet company.

Waiguru said the time will be used to try and serve the papers to Google through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The summons previously granted by the court on March 23rd, 2015, have since expired.

“The validity of the summons in this matter expired as Ms Waiguru’s counsel sought assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the service of summons outside the country. The expiry of summons was not occasioned by delays on Ms Waiguru’s part."

"In the circumstances, it is only fair and just that the validity of the summons be extended,” explained her lawyer.

Ms Waiguru lodged the suit against Google, its subsidiary Blogger Inc, and a Kenyan website, The Daily Post, seeking compensation for a story published in the post.

“I was shocked and embarrassed after reading the defamatory materials. As a public officer, the offending material has caused me trauma, reason wherefore I pray for judgment against Daily Post, Blogger Inc and Google Inc jointly and severally for general damages, aggravated and exemplary damages and the costs of this suit,” Ms Waiguru said in court papers filed in 2015.

“The suit cannot be heard until the respondents are served with all the pleadings. Since the material is freely available on the World Wide Web to anyone with a computer, smartphone or tablet, it has been used to bully, harass and embarrass my school-going children,” adds Ms Waiguru.