Newspaper Ordered to Pay MP Mohamed Ali Sh1 Million over Defamation Story

A Nairobi court has ordered a local daily to pay Nyali MP Mohamed Ali, alias Moha Jichopevu, Sh1 million for defamation. 

The court further directed The Star newspaper to cater for legal fees incurred in the suit and interest at court rates from the date it was filed until payment in full.

Ali sued the publication after it published a story alleging that he fired three constituency officials after he was caught up in a CDF bursary scam.

In his suit, MP Ali termed the article as malicious, arguing that he had not been arrested or summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) or any other investigative agency over the alleged scam.

He also told the court that he is not a signatory of the CDF account, adding that the daily did not contact him for any clarification.

While ruling in Ali’s favor, Milimani Chief Magistrate S.G Gitonga said, “Owing to the fact that the plaintiff was afforded a right of reply and a clarification was also published to make clarifications and directly apologize to him, I award the plaintiff a sum of Ksh1m as general damages for the tort of defamations.”

Ali had listed the Radio Africa Group-owned newspaper and journalist Ernest Cornel Oduor as respondents in the case.