Media personality Oga Obinna (Steve Thompson Magana) has secured a court victory against Radio Africa Group/Radio Jambo, presenter Masawe Japanni, and content creator Black Cinderella (Maureen Imbayi) in a defamation case.
The Milimani Commercial Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Edward Too, awarded Obinna Ksh 6.1 million in total damages and issued a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from publishing or airing any further defamatory content about him.
According to court filings, Black Cinderella made unverified and damaging remarks about Obinna on Radio Jambo.
“She (Black Cinderella) was invited for an interview and made the same remarks on air. The host and producers never asked for evidence but aired the story anyway for views and likes,” Obinna shared on social media.
The statements, which the host and producers aired without seeking evidence, tarnished Obinna’s name and brand.
“A permanent injunction is hereby ordered restraining the defendants by themselves or their agents from publishing any further or similar defamatory material concerning the plaintiff,” Too stated in his ruling.
The court awarded obinna ,Ksh 5 million in general damages , Ksh 500,000 in aggravated damages , Ksh 500,000 in lieu of an apology , Ksh 100,000 in exemplary damages Plus interest and full court costs.
While celebrating the win, Obinna thanked his lawyer Wakili Willis Otieno and joked that he would use part of the award to “lay the foundation” of his house built, as he put it, “with money from the haters.”
“Keep defaming people online without evidence , one by one, you’ll pay.” He wrote.
Kenyan courts have in recent years issued multi-million-shilling awards in defamation suits, which human-rights and media groups say can have a chilling effect on journalism.
Defamation lawsuits are rising sharply in Kenya. Studies show that courts are increasingly awarding higher damages, particularly in cases linked to online platforms and social media. Legal experts note that while such rulings protect reputations, they also highlight the need for responsible journalism and fact-checking.