By Andrew Kariuki
Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has moved to the Milimani Commercial Court seeking urgent orders to stop the publication of what he says are false and defamatory allegations linking him to serious crimes.
In a suit filed under a certificate of urgency, Echesa is challenging statements made during a live broadcast aired on December 4, 2025, titled “OBINNA SHOW LIVE: THEY TRIED TO KILL ME – SETH PANYAKO.”
According to the pleadings, the broadcast was hosted on Obinna TV and featured political figure Seth Panyako as a guest.
Court documents show that Echesa alleges he was falsely accused during the programme of leading violent attacks, involvement in killings and arson incidents in Matungu and surrounding areas.
He contends that the statements were presented as factual, despite having no legal or evidentiary basis.
In a sworn affidavit filed in support of the application, Echesa denied all the claims attributed to him, stating that he has never participated in or ordered any acts of violence or criminal conduct.
He told the court that the broadcast subjected him to public hostility, reputational damage, and emotional distress.
The suit further states that the broadcast was later published and disseminated across Obinna TV’s digital platforms, attracting wide public attention.
Echesa argues that the media entities named as respondents exercised editorial control over the content and failed to verify the allegations or give him an opportunity to respond before publication.
Through his advocates, Echesa issued a demand letter on December 5, 2025, seeking an immediate retraction, public apology and cessation of further publication.
According to the court filings, the demands were not complied with, prompting the filing of the suit.
Among the orders sought, Echesa is asking the court to issue temporary injunctions restraining the respondents from further publishing or repeating the impugned statements and to compel the removal of the broadcast from all online platforms pending the hearing and determination of the case.
He is also seeking general and aggravated damages, a permanent injunction and a court-ordered apology.
On December 24, 2025, Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Makoyo directed that the application and accompanying pleadings be served upon the respondents.
The court has not made any findings on the merits of the case at this stage.
The court scheduled the matter for inter-partes hearing on January 22, 2026.
