Activist Boniface Mwangi has been sentenced to two months in prison for contempt of court.
Appearing before the High Court at Machakos on Wednesday, Mwangi was also given the alternative of paying a Sh300,000 fine.
He had failed to appear in court twice in a defamation case where he was sued by Tourism CS Alfred Mutua who at the time was Machakos Governor.
An order issued on October 16, by Justice Rayola Ole found Mwangi guilty of the offence in an application dated January 11, 2022.
"The court has found you in contempt of court and directed that you appear in person to show cause why you should not be sent to civil jail,"a short note sent to Mwangi by his lawyer reads.
Through his lawyer, Mutua moved to court saying Mwangi had expressly breached and acted in violation of a court order prohibiting him from publishing in the print, and electronic or online media defamatory material or concerning the CS.
"Mwangi disobeyed the order on January 6 and 9, 2022 by publishing on his Twitter account(now X) content against Governor Mutua," Lawyer Harrison Kinyajui said.
He wanted the activist to issue an apology and retract all the libelous content published.
The defamatory case dates back to October 2021.
Mwangi however denied publishing defamatory statements.
In his statement of defence dated November 23, 2021, Mwangi asserted that it is his right as a journalist and human rights defender to speak.
"The defendant further avers that in his line of work as a journalist and human rights defender, he is constantly targeted by powerful individuals who detest his valour and courage in his pursuit of a just and democratic society," he said.
Following the court's decision on Wednesday, Mwangi took to his X page stating that the gag order was extended to January 2024.
