The High Court has set January 22, 2026, as the date for the hearing of a defamation case filed by former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa against Seth Panyako and Oga Obinna TV, owned by comedian Oga Obinna.
In the petition filed on Wednesday, January 7, Echesa accused the duo of allegedly making derogatory and false statements linking him to the violence witnessed in November last year during the Malava by-elections.
Echesa argued that the statements made by Panyako, who at the time was vying for the Malava parliamentary seat, presented his remarks as facts rather than opinions.
According to the former CS, the comments by Panyako portrayed him as an alleged violent person, an arsonist and a threat to members of the public.
Echesa, while lamenting over the publication, argued that the post had allegedly exposed him to public scrutiny, ridicule, hatred and contempt.
The politician dismissed the claims made during the November interview, maintaining that he has never led, commanded, or participated in any violent group or criminal activity.
Additionally, Echesa emphasised that he had a clear record and that no criminal charges had ever been preferred against him in relation to the claims made during the show.
The former CS is now seeking the court's intervention for the immediate removal of the said videos from the comedian's YouTube channel.
Meanwhile, the court, while issuing directions over the matter, directed the petitioner to serve the respondents with the application, with the case set for hearing on January 22.
During the said interview, Panyako accused Echesa, alongside a local Member of Parliament, of reportedly receiving money to instigate violence in Malava to influence the outcome of the by-elections.
In the said video, Panyako recounted a narrow death escape, alleging a group of politicians had allegedly plotted to assassinate him just days before the mini polls.
Despite the allegations, the DAP-Kenya candidate emerged second after losing the polls to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, David Ndakwa.
