The High Court of Kenya has ordered Nero CEO Anerlisa Muigai to pay one Ben Kangangi Sh2million for tarnishing his name through an online post that portrayed him as fraudulent.
In the post, Anerlisa said that Kangangi approached her asking for Sh20million for a tender he had secured with the government to supply electrical cables.
She said she could only raise Sh7million but had to borrow Sh13million. Anerlisa said Ben told her he knew a financier and in less than a week she had been given the whole amount without any security.
However, after three days the financier allegedly called her asking for security and Anerlisa says she brought two cars that Ben had surrendered but the financier asked for at least one car under her name or her company’s name.
Anerlisa added that Ben delayed paying her back and Dennis (the financier) was also demanding to be paid. According to her, Ben did not answer her phone calls when she tried to reach out.
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In her post, Anerlisa said Ben later agreed to pay her Sh5million and a few months later Dennis told her to withdraw the case.
Ben, on his part, told the court that the online post resulted in numerous repeat publications of libelous articles against him that portrayed him as a fraudulent businessman.
He testified that he is a businessman dealing in imports and sale of high-end automobiles, equipment, fashion apparel and interior design material through a company called Benka Automobiles.
In his ruling, Justice Said Juma Chitembwe said that based on the evidence presented, a global award of Sh2million was adequate compensation for the plaintiff since his character was negatively affected.
