A Milimani Commercial Courts ordered lawyer Ignatius Muhatia to pay Sh1.5 million in damages to Harriet Chiggai, the Special Advisor on Women’s Rights to the President, for defamatory statements made in a lawyers’ WhatsApp group.
Chief Magistrate Daniel Kanyinke Ole Keiwua, in a judgment delivered virtually on January 13, 2026, found that Muhatia’s comment accusing Chiggai of “trading my body for positions” was false, malicious, and calculated to lower her reputation before over 1,000 members of the “Western Jurists Forum.”
The dispute originated on March 22, 2023, during a heated online debate about First Lady Rachel Ruto’s adoption of 200 acres of the Kakamega Forest for restoration.
Chiggai had explained the adoption process, prompting Muhatia to label it “wanton land grabbing.”
The exchange escalated, with Chiggai telling Muhatia to “stop being lazy and get your facts right” and acting “like a two-year-old.” Muhatia retorted, “why are you bitter and reasoning like a 99-year-old Kukhu?… let me get mileage out of my reasoning and not by trading my body for positions. You are lucky Madam.”
The court found that the phrase “trading my body for positions” was a clear attack on Chiggai’s professional integrity and morality, falsely implying she advanced her career through sexual favours.
In his defence, Muhatia argued the words were not defamatory and that Chiggai failed to call witnesses to prove damage to her reputation.
He also filed a counterclaim, alleging that her calling him a “two-year-old” was equally defamatory.
The magistrate dismissed these arguments, stating the natural meaning of Muhatia’s words was defamatory, and witness corroboration was not a legal requirement in such a case.
The court also dismissed Muhatia’s counterclaim, finding the insults from both parties “offensive in nature and of equal measure,” resulting in no award for him.
While Chigai sought Sh11 million in general damages, Sh2 million in exemplary, and sh 6 million in aggravated damages, the court awarded only Sh1.5 million in general damages.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
