Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has won a defamation lawsuit against The Standard Group's tabloid The Nairobian, securing Ksh 11 million in damages. The case stemmed from a 2018 article that allegedly made false claims and infringed on his family's privacy. Kaluma plans to appeal for higher compensation and donate the award to charity.
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma celebrated a significant legal victory on social media after the High Court ordered The Standard Group to pay him Ksh 11 million plus costs and interest for defamation published in its tabloid, The Nairobian. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, addressed an article that contained salacious allegations against Kaluma and infringed on the privacy of his family, particularly his two children.
In a statement, Kaluma described the publication as 'a false and defamatory article referring to me and my family.' He noted, 'The High Court has ordered Standard to pay me Ksh 11,000,000 plus costs and interests for defamation in their Nairobian newspaper.' Despite the award, the vocal lawmaker intends to appeal for an increased amount 'commensurate with the damage done to my reputation and my family' and to file another suit over the article's continued availability online.
The court's ruling, as seen by Kenyans.co.ke, awarded Ksh 10 million specifically for the privacy infringement on Kaluma's children, considering inflation since 2018. The judge stated, 'In view of the above, I find that an award of Ksh10 million would be sufficient in light of the fact that the privacy of the plaintiff's two children was also infringed, each in their individual capacity, by the said publication and inflation due to the passage of time.' An additional Ksh 1 million in exemplary damages was granted because the media house refused to apologize despite demands. The ruling added, 'Having had an opportunity to apologise but failed to do so, the defendant was in effect grandstanding and therefore acted improperly... I do award the plaintiff exemplary damages in the sum of Ksh1 million.'
Kaluma has expressed plans to donate the payout to a charity of his choice once received.