Veteran radio presenter Fred Obachi Machoka has filed a defamation suit against Kileleshwa representative at the Nairobi County Assembly Robert Alai, demanding KSh 60 million in damages.

Machoka filed the suit through his lawyer, Danstan Omari, after Alai allegedly made false and malicious statements about Machoka’s health status on Facebook. According to court documents, Alai’s post tagged Machoka’s official Facebook profile and insinuated that Machoka was sick, mentally unwell, and a tribalist.

Omari argued that Alai’s statements were untrue and deliberately malicious, intending to tarnish Machoka’s public image. Machoka, in a sworn affidavit, refuted the allegations, stating that he has no physical illness, is not taking any medication, and has never been diagnosed with any mental illness.

He also challenged Alai’s right to speculate on his health status without medical evidence and denied allegations of tribalism, emphasizing his commitment to national unity.

Machoka’s legal team highlighted his 47-year career in the broadcast industry and his significant social media following, noting that Alai’s tagging of Machoka amplified the defamatory statements. Machoka had previously demanded a retraction and apology within 48 hours, which Alai did not do.

The suit seeks a court declaration that Alai’s statements were defamatory, a permanent injunction against further defamatory posts, and KSh 60 million in damages.

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