Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata has been paid a total of Sh12.5 million by Royal Media Services (RMS) and Mediamax Ltd for defamatory stories published by the two media houses last year.
The articles of Dr. Kang’ata, who was then serving as Murang’a senator, were published on the websites and radio stations of the media outlets.
Dr. Kang’ata, on the other hand, claimed that the clips broadcast by media outlets on September 15, last year were maliciously tainted and harmed his reputation.
He claimed that he attempted to address the house from his car, but that then-Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka denied him access due to his location and asked him to physically present himself at the senate and make his address. Dr Kang’ata wished to speak to the House about the plight of Murang’a farmers.
In the cases filed before the Milimani magistrates court, Dr Kang’ata stated that the articles associated him with morally reprehensible behaviour.
The two media outlets denied the allegations and defended their publications, claiming that they were done in good faith, without malice, and with no intent to harm Dr Kang’ata’s reputation.
However, the Murang’a governor and the two media outlets reached an out-of-court settlement in which RMS agreed to pay Dr Kang’ata Sh6 million and Mediamax agreed to pay him Sh6.5 million.
Dr Kang’ata claimed that the words chosen by radio stations, including Kameme, were sensationally broadcast during a period of increased political activity and a year before the general election.
The governor described himself as a churchgoer, a husband and father of four school-going children, a mentor, and a moral beacon.
The following morning, the radio station discussed the alleged transcript further and invited callers, who further scandalized Dr Kang’ata.
He claimed he provided the stations with an unedited version of the transcripts and unsuccessfully urged media outlets to remove the offending articles.
“Further enclosed is a consent letter in duplicate duly exercised on our part marking this fully and finally settled with no orders as to costs,” reads a letter to Dr Kang’ata’s lawyers Tindi Munyasi & Company dated November 7.
