Ruling Sets Precedent on Media Accountability

A landmark ruling by the Milimani Commercial Magistrates' Court in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, has ordered Radio Africa Group, the parent company of Radio Jambo, to pay media personality Steve Thompson Magana, professionally known as Oga Obinna, a total of Ksh6.1 million in damages for defamation. The judgment, delivered by Senior Principal Magistrate Edward Too, found the media house, its presenter Massawe Japanni, and socialite Maureen Imbayi ('Black Cinderella') jointly liable for broadcasting unsubstantiated allegations of sexual misconduct against Obinna in 2024.

The court meticulously broke down the awarded sum, allocating Ksh5 million for general damages, Ksh500,000 for aggravated damages, another Ksh500,000 in lieu of an apology, and Ksh100,000 for exemplary damages. Furthermore, the court issued a permanent injunction, legally barring the defendants from publishing or broadcasting any similar defamatory statements concerning Obinna in the future.

The Broadcast at the Heart of the Lawsuit

The case originated from an interview aired on Massawe Japanni's show on Radio Jambo in 2024, during which Maureen Imbayi made serious allegations of sexual misconduct against Obinna. According to court records and Obinna's public statements, the claims were broadcast without any attempt by the host or producers to verify their authenticity or to contact him for his side of the story. Obinna stated that this lack of due diligence was particularly egregious given his past professional relationship with Japanni, with whom he had previously worked at both QFM and Radio Africa Group, making him easily reachable for comment.

Following the broadcast, the interview clips were widely circulated on the social media platforms of both Radio Jambo and Massawe Japanni, significantly amplifying their reach and, according to Obinna, causing severe damage to his personal and professional reputation. He recounted facing widespread public condemnation both online and offline, which negatively impacted his brand and career. Obinna's legal team argued that the statements made were not fair comment but deliberate misinformation, a position the court ultimately upheld.

Legal Ramifications and Media Responsibility in Kenya

This ruling arrives at a time of heightened scrutiny on media practices and the legal consequences of defamation in Kenya. The substantial award highlights a growing trend of courts holding media houses financially accountable for reputational damage. For context, other significant defamation awards in Kenya include a 2021 judgment where The Star Newspaper was ordered to pay Ksh22 million in damages and a 2019 case where journalist Tony Mochama was awarded Ksh9 million. These cases underscore the serious financial risks media organizations face for failing to adhere to basic journalistic ethics, such as the right of reply and fact-checking.

The Kenyan Defamation Act provides a civil framework for recourse against false and damaging statements. While criminal defamation was declared unconstitutional in 2017, the financial penalties in civil suits serve as a powerful regulatory mechanism. Legal experts note that for a defamation claim to succeed, the plaintiff must prove that a statement was defamatory, referred to them, and was published to a third party. The burden of proof then shifts to the defendant to justify the publication, for instance by proving its truthfulness. In this case, the court found that Radio Jambo and its host failed to exercise the necessary due diligence, leading to the significant penalty.

In his reaction to the verdict, Oga Obinna took to social media to express his satisfaction, stating, "So we successfully sued Radio Jambo for defamation about a year ago, and today we have won." He reiterated that the allegations were made by someone he had never met and were aired for "Views and Likes or whatever reason" without any request for evidence. The third defendant, Maureen Imbayi, reportedly did not appear in court despite being summoned.

As of Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 10:00 PM EAT, neither Radio Africa Group, Radio Jambo, nor Massawe Japanni had issued a public statement or responded to the court's ruling. Attempts by Streamline News to reach their representatives for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. This judgment serves as a critical reminder to the Kenyan media industry of its profound responsibility to verify information before broadcast and the severe legal and financial repercussions of failing to do so.