This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
On May 21, 2020, Chief Magistrate JB Kalo of Nakuru Law Courts made a landmark ruling in a defamation case involving former Standard Newspaper journalist Vincent Mabatuk and his former boss Alex Kiprotich.
Mabatuk was ordered to pay Kiprotich Sh8 million in damages, comprising Sh6 million for general damages and Sh2 million for the costs of the case.
The case stemmed from a series of defamatory Facebook posts made by Mabatuk during the 2017 general elections, when he and Kiprotich supported different politicians.
According to the court ruling, Kiprotich was an 'outstanding professional with vast experience in the field of journalism, a person of good name and reputation, high standing, integrity and deservedly held in high esteem by the general public and colleagues in the media industry' at the time the posts were published.
Chief Magistrate Kalo considered comparable case law and the submissions by the counsel in determining the quantum of damages payable.
“On the quantum of damages payable, the court has considered the submissions by the counsel and the authorities relied on. The court has also considered comparable case law,” Kalo said.
