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NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan athletics legend Kipchoge Keino has been awarded Sh4.5 million in a defamation suit against Nation Media Group (NMG), after a Nairobi court found the media house liable for publishing a false and damaging story in 2018 that claimed he was evading arrest over the 2016 Rio Olympics scandal.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Milimani Commercial Court Magistrate Rawlings Musiega ruled that the article—published in October 2018—was defamatory, malicious, and factually incorrect.
The story claimed Keino, then the honorary president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), was “on the run” amid investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Sh55 million meant for Team Kenya during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Being ‘on the run’ does not mean one is merely out of the country—it implies fleeing justice,” the court ruled, finding that the newspaper failed to verify the facts before publication and used reckless language that amounted to malice.
Keino Was Abroad on Official Duty
At the time the story was published, Keino was in Mexico receiving an international award on behalf of Kenya’s disabled athletes.
He was neither a signatory to the NOCK accounts under investigation nor a direct recipient of the disputed funds.
Court documents further showed that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Director of Public Prosecutions had cleared him of any wrongdoing, with all charges dropped after investigations.
Despite issuing a public apology, Nation Media Group declined to compensate Keino, arguing that the report served the public interest.
The court dismissed the defence, noting that public interest reporting must be grounded in truth.
The court awarded Keino Sh4.5 million in general damages for reputational harm, plus legal costs and interest.
However, the magistrate declined to award aggravated damages, stating there was no evidence of further harm beyond the initial publication.
Execution of the ruling has been stayed for 30 days, giving the media house an opportunity to appeal.
‘This Ruling Restores His Dignity’
Speaking outside the court, Keino’s lawyer Cecil Miller welcomed the decision, saying it marked a victory not just for the athletics icon but for the broader principle of responsible journalism.
“This is not just about the legend Kip Keino but about the importance of truth and fairness in reporting. I am grateful that justice has been served,” Miller said.
Keino, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of Kenya’s most celebrated sports figures, served as chairman of NOCK from 1999 to 2017.
Athletics legend Kipchoge Keino wins Sh4.5m award in defamation case
