Blogger Ordered To Pay 5 Million To MP In The Highest Ever Defamation Payout By A Blogger

Becoming a blogger is what many young Kenyans are aspiring to be whether as part time or as full time self employment job.

However, it is quickly becoming an option marred by challenges and the threat of being jailed. This is especially true for social and political bloggers. Public figures and corporate entities have seen the power of such bloggers and the effect of a conversation trending online and they are not taking it easy where their names are mentioned in unflattering terms.

In the beginning, such an unlucky would be released after much lobbying and having spent a few days in the cell. Nowadays, jail time and punitive damage fees are a reality few have found out the pretty hard way. The worst hit has to be one Peter Ekisa who was ordered by court to pay a total of 5 million to Teso North MP after making what the court termed falsehoods against the MP.

Apparently he was asked to retract the comments but declined and in his ruling the judge said “There is no doubt that the platform chosen by the plaintiff was intended to and did achieve the desire to be accessed by as many people as possible.  Indeed, the number of people who contributed to the exchanges is overwhelming to say the least.  The damage of character sustained by the plaintiff must have been enormous,”

This ruling is set to be a precedent that could see more such like defamation cases.