The High Court of Kisumu has ordered The Star newspaper to pay Justice Anne Omollo Ksh6 million as compensation for defamation.
In her ruling, Justice Esther Maina stated that the publication should settle off the damages sought by the complainant, Ms Omollo.
Her ruling further dismissed an application filed by the publication seeking a stay on the execution of a judgment that had been given directing them to pay Ms Omollo.
[caption caption="File image of Judge Esther Maina"]
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The application had been filed by the defendants’ advocates, citing the hefty penalty awarded to their clients.
In the judgment made on December 21, 2017, the court had also awarded the applicant an order for a written apology for three consecutive days and costs of the suit.
However, the lawyer representing The Star newspaper, Gabriel Mwangi confirmed that they had filed a notice of appeal in the Appellate court to challenge the judgment.
The suit had been filed in 2015 by Ms Omollo after the newspaper published a story implicating her in a Ksh1.6 million scandal.
The scandal was contained in an ODM party task force report on financial mismanagement at the Kisumu County Assembly.
The task force was chaired by ODM Executive Secretary Oduor Ong'wen.
Justice Omollo has since been moved to Mombasa High Court from Kisumu.
[caption caption="File image of ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong'wen"]
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