Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has donated Ksh.9 million awarded to him in a defamation suit against Standard Media Group to charity.
This is after High Court Judge Dorah Chepkwony ruled in favour of Namwamba in a defamation suit against the media house, in regards to a story published by The Nairobian newspaper (a Standard Group publication) in 2018.
The lawsuit centered around an article in The Nairobian, a publication owned by The Standard, which insinuated a close relationship between Namwamba and a family member.
To commemorate his 48th birthday on December 23, the CS has announced that the Ababu Namwamba Foundation will serve as the trustee for the funds.
“Today, on my birthday, I donate the entirety of the Kshs 9 million to charity. As Ababu Namwamba Foundation (ANF) marks its 20th Anniversary, its Board of Trustees will receive the money to establish a revolving endowment fund to support fees for vulnerable students and to empower transformative youth initiatives,” Namwamba said in a statement.
The Sports CS had filed the case jointly with his brothers John, Thomas, Peter Okochi Adochi, and Pastor John Osimbo.
However, he noted that no amount of money could restitute him and his family for the horrifying pain, odium and public shame that was occasioned by what he termed as irresponsibility and recklessness of the false and malicious publications
“It is a tiny measure of relief for the utter horror endured in the five long years the wheels of justice have ground on. But it is well,” Namwamba added.
The defamatory article was published in 2018 when Namwamba held the position of Chief Administrative Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While giving the ruling, Justice Chepkwony observed that the article had not only defamed his character but also had implications for his appointment as CAS in the ministry.
