The High Court in Nairobi has ruled that the Standard Group PLC, along with an editor of its subsidiary, Nairobian Newspaper, and a writer, must collectively pay Ksh 6.5 million in damages to a former police officer, Linda Okello, for defaming her character.

The court found that the newspaper had harmed Okello's reputation by publishing an article that used photos from her social media profiles without her consent, ultimately degrading her public image.

Linda Okello's legal representation, lawyer Tom Ojienda, highlighted that the defamatory article published in the Nairobian Newspaper had negatively impacted his client's standing in the community.

"We have just won an award of Ksh 6.5 million for Linda Okello, a former police officer improperly degraded by the improper sharing of her image and likeness and the use of her image for commercial gain and or publicity," Ojienda affirmed.

In her ruling, Justice Asenath Nyaboke Ongeri not only mandated the monetary compensation but also issued a permanent injunction that bars the Standard Group PLC and its employees from disseminating similar defamatory content in the future.

Justice Ongeri also stipulated a mandatory injunction that requires the defendants to issue a written apology across their media platforms.

Defamation is subject to civil law and is governed by the Defamation Act, Cap 36, which defines it as slanderous or libelous statements. Defendants in such cases can present a range of defenses, including proving that their statements were truthful and made in good faith, on reasonable grounds.

Additionally, the Act outlines the right of reply, permitting individuals or organizations affected by factual inaccuracies damaging their reputation to address the matter publicly through the same media outlet that published the inaccurate information.