Oga Obinna Escapes Arrest After Sonko Steps In to Halt Cyber Misuse Case
Media personality Oga Obinna narrowly avoided detention on Friday after former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko stepped in to de-escalate a cyber misuse complaint that had been lodged against him, it has emerged.
The complaint had been filed with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) by senior advocates Danstan Omari and Cliff Ombeta, following remarks made during a recent episode of Obinna’s online show. The matter was serious enough, according to the lawyers, to warrant Obinna’s possible arrest alongside a young lawyer who appeared on the programme.
However, the dispute was defused after a reconciliation meeting held on December 19 at Sonko’s Nairobi office. The meeting was organised by Sonko, although both he and Omari were not physically present. Ombeta attended and confirmed that the lawyers had opted to withdraw the complaint.
“We had reported the matter to the DCI for misuse of cyber; you were going to be apprehended,” Ombeta told Obinna during the meeting. He added: “We have withdrawn the case. We will not proceed to court to sue you, and we will not be asking for costs or damages.”
The controversy stemmed from an interview aired on December 16, during which a young lawyer appearing on Obinna’s platform alleged that Omari and Ombeta often take up high-profile cases for publicity rather than to see them through to completion. He further accused the two prominent advocates of engaging in graft, claims that quickly sparked backlash.
Obinna had previously indicated that he issued a disclaimer during the show to distance himself from the remarks. However, Ombeta dismissed the effectiveness of such a move, arguing that responsibility still lay with the platform owner.
“The disclaimer does not help you,” Ombeta said. “Why? It is being carried on your platform. Your platform reaches so many people; if he speaks by himself out there, he will not reach anybody.”
The senior lawyer went on to caution Obinna about the influence and reach of his show, advising him to more firmly guide guests and prevent them from making potentially defamatory statements about third parties.
“You must direct your interviewees not to go overboard,” Ombeta said, stressing that freedom of expression does not extend to damaging allegations made without evidence.
During the meeting, the young lawyer at the centre of the controversy issued an apology to Omari and Ombeta for the remarks. He maintained, however, that his comments were not intended to personally target the two advocates, insisting that he was speaking broadly about alleged bribery within the judiciary.
Despite this clarification, Ombeta noted that the wording used during the interview directly implicated them, making the claims actionable under cyber misuse and defamation laws.
With the complaint now withdrawn, all parties indicated that the matter had been resolved amicably. Obinna welcomed the outcome, saying it had never been his intention to use his platform to malign individuals or damage reputations.
The incident has reignited debate around the responsibilities of digital content creators in Kenya, particularly as online platforms continue to rival traditional media in reach and influence. Legal experts have repeatedly warned that presenters and platform owners can be held accountable for content aired under their banner, even when controversial remarks are made by guests.
For now, Obinna has avoided legal trouble, but the episode serves as a cautionary tale for online broadcasters navigating the increasingly complex intersection of free speech, accountability and the law.
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Oga Obinna Escapes Arrest After Sonko Steps In to Halt Cyber Misuse Case