Former Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya. He has been awarded Sh6.5 million in two separate defamation suits against two leading Kenya dailies. [Photo: informationcradle.com]Two High Court judges have separately ordered the Nation and Standard newspapers to pay former Githunguri MP Njoroge Baiya a sum of Sh6.5 million as compensation for defamation.Nation has been ordered to pay Baiya Sh3 million as general damages and a further Sh500,000 for exemplary damages. "I find and hold that the plaintiff has proven his case on a balance of probability," Justice Lucy Njuguna, who handled the suit against the Nation Media Group ruled as quoted by the Star.In the Standard case, Justice Stephen Riechi said that while there was no evidence the article the MP had complained of was sensationalised, it was, however, wrong for the company to publish the claims without first seeking a clarification from the politician, adds the Star."The defendant was, therefore, reckless in publishing the same," the judge ruled.He ordered the company to pay Baiya Sh2 million as general damages and Sh1 million as exemplary damages.The Star further reports the politician had sued the Nation Media Group and the Standard Group after the two companies published articles he claims ruined his political career.The said articles were published in the two dailies in March 2013 while Baiya lost his seat in the August 8 General Election.Baiya told the court, the Nation, in its article titled 'MPs reject demeaning salaries and vow to push for fresh reviews', gave the wrong impression about him.He argued the article suggested he and other MPs would lead demands for fresh negotiations with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for higher pay and allowances.In the case against the Standard, Baiya said the article published on March 24, 2013, also gave the wrong impression about him. In both cases, the former legislator said the publications did not only publicly and personally defame him but also lowered his esteem.Further, he claimed the article depicted him as a greedy politician who only runs for office 'for money' rather than to serve his constituents.

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