A Nairobi court has ordered former Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) chief executive Ezekiel Mutua to pay musician Hubert Nakitare, popularly known as Nonini, a total of Ksh3 million for defamatory remarks he made about the artiste.
Milimani Commercial Magistrate James Gitau delivered the judgment on Monday, October 26, 2026. He awarded Nonini Ksh2.5 million in general damages. He also gave him an extra Ksh500,000 as exemplary and aggravated damages, which are meant to punish the person who made the statements and show that such behaviour will not be tolerated.
In his ruling, the magistrate said Mutua's remarks could hurt Nonini's reputation. The statements painted the musician as someone who had run away from Kenya to escape the law, and the court found that this was not true and had the potential to damage his name among fans, colleagues and the public.
The court also gave Mutua a clear instruction. He has been directed to take down the statements from his social media account within 14 days. He has also been ordered to pay the costs of the case, which means he will cover the legal expenses incurred during the hearing.
This is not the first time the two have been locked in a public fight. Nonini has been vocal about what he sees as unfair treatment in the music industry, while Mutua has often spoken openly about artistes and royalty matters. Today's ruling sends a strong message to public figures that online comments, even when made in anger, can attract serious consequences in court.
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