Ababu Namwamba Donates KSh 9m To Charity After Winning Court Case

• In honour of his 48th birthday, which falls on December 23, Ababu Namwamba declared that the Ababu Namwamba Foundation will act as the trustee of the funds
• The funds, according to Ababu Namwamba, are intended to support young people and students in need
• While delivering the ruling, Lady Justice Chepkwony noted that Standard Group submitted that, at the time of publication, they believed the stories were true

Dennis Lubanga, a Kenyan journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than 10 years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nairobi - Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has given KSh 9 million to charity, which was granted to him in a defamation lawsuit against Standard Media Group.

Regarding a report that The Nairobian newspaper (a Standard Group property) published in 2018, High Court Judge Dorah Chepkwony found in favour of Namwamba in a defamation lawsuit against the media outlet.

Taking to his official X account, Namwamba said that in honour of his 48th birthday, which falls on December 23, he had declared that the Ababu Namwamba Foundation will act as the trustee of the funds intended to support young people and students in need.

"I give the full Kshs 9 million that I have today—my birthday—to charity."

"The Ababu Namwamba Foundation (ANF) is celebrating its 20th anniversary. To support fees for vulnerable students and to empower transformative youth initiatives, its Board of Trustees will receive the money to establish a revolving endowment fund."

Who are the other people who felt aggrieved alongside Ababu Namwamba

Together with his brothers John, Thomas, Peter Okochi Adochi, and Pastor John Osimbo—all of whom CS Namwamba claims suffered just as much humiliation and suffering—he had filed the lawsuit.

“No amount of money could ever sufficiently restitute me and my family for the horrifying pain, odium, and, public shame occasioned by the irresponsibility and recklessness of the false and malicious publications,” the CS noted.

“It is a tiny measure of relief for the utter horror endured in the five long years the wheels of justice have ground on. But it is well,” he added.

While delivering the ruling, Lady Justice Chepkwony noted that Standard Group submitted that at the time of the publication, they believed the stories were true and only discovered (later) that the interviewees were imposters and the information was false.

CS Namwamba has expressed that the admission by the publication gives him a morsel of comfort’.

Why the Standard Media Group mates to Kenyans

Having found solace, the CS noted that the case will serve as a lesson to journalists to be responsible in their work.

“May the KSh 9 million awarded to me as damages serve as yet another stark lesson to journalists and the media to maintain fidelity to the straight and narrow of responsible reporting anchored on fact and not actuated by malice or recklessness,” he stated.

CS Namwamba, who was then serving as Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had moved to court to hold the media outlet accountable for publishing the false and malicious story that cast doubts on his moral character.

He had sought KSh 50 million in general damages, KSh 12 million in punitive and exemplary damages, and an additional KSh 5 million in aggravated damages.

TUKO.co.ke earlier reported that Namwamba is a super-productive early bird.

Opening up in an Instagram video, Namwamba said he wakes up for work at 3am.

According to the CS, mornings are the most productive time of the day.

He said getting up early helps him start the day calmly and proactively, without the chaotic rush of everyday hustle and bustle.

"My waking hour is three in the morning. It is the standard wake-up time. That is the freshest moment; your mind is at its sharpest. You can clear a lot of stuff," said Namwamba.

The former MP added that he also has a bedtime routine that ensures he is well-rested to wake up early.

He, however, admitted that, due to his schedule, he sometimes fails to fit into the optimum window for falling asleep.

"On sleeping, I try as much as possible to sleep early, but it is difficult to sleep before 10pm.”

Namwamba's work ethic has seen him spearhead the Talanta Hela initiative. The initiative seeks to monetise talent and revolutionise Kenya's sports and creative space.

Aside from talent searches, the Talanta Hela aims to mobilise sectoral stakeholders, including schools, federations, clubs, private academies, and other partners.