Former Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Chief Executive Officer Ezekiel Mutua has been ordered to pay musician Hubert Mbuku Nakitare, popularly known as Nonini, Sh3 million in damages after a court found his remarks about the artist defamatory.
Milimani Commercial Magistrate James Gitau awarded Nonini Sh2.5 million in general damages and an additional Sh500,000 in exemplary and aggravated damages in a judgment delivered on October 26, 2026.
The court also directed Mutua to remove the disputed statements from his social media account within 14 days and pay the costs of the suit.
In his ruling, Magistrate Gitau held that the remarks had the potential to damage Nonini’s reputation by creating the impression that the musician had fled Kenya to avoid facing the law.
The court’s decision marks a legal victory for the musician, who had challenged the statements on grounds of defamation.
The damages awarded comprise compensation for the reputational harm caused by the remarks, with the additional exemplary and aggravated damages reflecting the court’s assessment of the circumstances surrounding the case.
Mutua is required to comply with the court’s directive to take down the impugned statements within the stipulated 14-day period.
The judgment underscores the legal consequences of making defamatory statements, including on social media, where publications can reach wide audiences and potentially harm an individual’s reputation.
