A Nairobi court has barred the media and bloggers from publishing defamatory stories against Urithi Housing Co-operative Society Limited.
According to an article on the standardmedia.co.ke, Lady Justice Lucy Njuguna on July 22, 2020 barred a local media house and a blogger from writing, printing, and publishing or broadcasting defamatory statements about the Sacco and its directors and members.
The order also stops bloggers and the media from defaming Urithi Company CEO Samuel Ngundo. Further, the defendants are ordered to remove publications dated July 5, 2020, under the heading ‘How Urithi Members paid millions for air’ and the removal of various Twitter messages by Susan in her timeline defaming Urithi, which were retweeted all over the social media platform.
In her orders, Judge Njuguna held, “Pending the hearing and determination of this application, a gag order has been issued against blogger Susan Wanja using a pseudo name Freedom Becoz of Brave (Urithi Scams Group) or any other media compelling them to immediately remove from publication and cease the publications against Urithi.”
The company chairman Samuel Maina had moved to court to challenge that Susan Wanja, a blogger published fallacious articles on social media against the company. He further accused Nation Media Group of disseminating incorrect information through an article said to have been published on July 6, 2020, claiming that the company “sold air to unsuspecting Kenyans killing their dreams to become homeowners.”
In the court documents, Mr Maina argued that Wanja had libelled him and his company discouraging members of the public from investing with the housing cooperative company. Maina further claims the defamatory articles published on social media between July 1 and 10, 2020 have disgraced his company and his personal image.
He said that the allegations contained in the article had a clear intention to appal, denounce and wound his character with the aim of causing damage and injury to his reputation in general. He further contends that the publication of private reports purportedly from Wanja which was unsubstantiated and suspected to be stolen information continues to imperil him and his family especially his children and exposing him to physical and irretrievable economic harm.
He now wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) directed to assist in unravelling the identity of Wanja who has portrayed him as a person of slack morals and a hoaxer who cannot be reliable with public funds and office.
The matter will be heard on September 21, 2020.