John Githongo ordered to pay ex-minister Murungaru Ksh.27M for defamation

The High Court has ordered anti-corruption crusader John Githongo to pay former Cabinet minister Chris Murungaru Ksh.27 million for defamation in the Anglo Leasing scandal.

Githongo, who was the Anglo Leasing scandal whistle-blower, was directed to pay Murungaru Ksh.20 million in general damages, Ksh.5 million in exemplary damages, and Ksh.2 million in special damages.

Reacting to the court’s verdict, Githongo said he is “disappointed though not surprised by the judgement,” adding that he would appeal the decision.

“I am disappointed though unsurprised by the judgment that has emerged from the High Court with regard to the Anglo-Leasing defamation matter…. The matter has drudged through the courts for 13 years and been heard by different judges. It is my plan to appeal this judgment as vigorously as possible,” he said in a statement.

In the case filed 13 years ago, Murungaru told the court that Githongo killed his political career and tarnished his reputation after linking him to the multi-billion scam in November 2005.

At the time, Githongo was the Governance and Ethics Permanent Secretary in President Kibaki’s government.

Murungaru described the Anglo Leasing report brought to light by Githongo in 2005 as “a pack of conjecture, falsehoods, rumours, gossip, inconclusive inferences, suspicion and hearsay,” arguing that it made voters reject him in the 2007 and 2013 elections.

In the Anglo Leasing report, Githongo accused Murungaru and other government officials of masterminding a fraudulent deal that allegedly saw a non-existent company — Anglo Leasing and Finance — awarded multi-billion government contracts.