The Siaya Resident Magistrate’s Court has directed blogger Michael Oduor, popularly known as Mike Ochieng, to pay Ksh3 million in general damages for defaming Siaya County Public Service Board CEO, Wilfred Nyagudi.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Magistrate Jacob Mkala found Michael guilty of publishing defamatory content against Nyagudi on social media platforms. In addition to the general damages, the court ordered him to pay an extra Ksh300,000 in exemplary damages.
Michael is also required to immediately delete all offensive posts including memes, images, and defamatory statements from his Facebook and WhatsApp accounts.
The case stemmed from a series of posts shared in early 2024, where Michael accused the county’s Public Service Board of corruption, nepotism, and irregular hiring practices. The court ruled the claims amounted to libel and slander and infringed on Nyagudi’s rights.
Magistrate Mkala stated that Michael failed to produce any credible evidence to support his accusations. The court also rejected the defense’s claim that the blogger’s actions were in the public interest, ruling that the justification was legally baseless.
It further emerged that Michael made the defamatory statements shortly after he failed to secure a job in the county government, a recruitment process overseen by Nyagudi. The court found this timing suspicious and indicative of a possible personal grudge.
As part of the judgment, the court directed Michael to issue an official apology through the same platforms he used to spread the defamatory content.
This marks Michael’s second defamation conviction. In March 2025, High Court Judge David Kemei found him guilty of defaming North Uyoma Ward MCA Booker Bonyo and ordered him to pay Ksh20 million in damages.
His legal team is currently appealing that decision.
