Veteran radio presenter Fred Obachi Machoka has filed a defamation lawsuit against Nairobi Member of County Assembly Robert Alai, demanding KSh 60 million in damages over a Facebook post that he claims falsely portrayed him as HIV positive, mentally unstable, and a tribalist.
Machoka, known for his iconic show Roga Roga, filed the case through his lawyer Danstan Omari, arguing that Alai’s public statements were malicious and deeply damaging to his reputation.
According to court filings, Alai posted the controversial remarks on his verified Facebook page, directly tagging Machoka’s official account. The post read in part:
“@Fred Obachi Machoka OGW I feel your ethnic rage. It’s just ethnic. Your problem is supply of ARVs not Presidency… Does HIV bring insanity nowadays?”
Omari stated that there was no ambiguity in the post’s target, emphasizing that Alai mentioned and tagged Machoka by name, making the defamatory intent unmistakable.
“The assertions made by the defendant are entirely baseless, defamatory, and damaging to our client’s long-standing reputation as a respected media personality,” reads part of the petition.
In a sworn affidavit, Machoka categorically denied all allegations, affirming that he is HIV negative, has never taken antiretroviral medication, and has never been diagnosed with any mental illness.
He further criticized the credibility of Alai’s post, arguing that making public claims about someone’s health status without any medical proof is both unethical and legally indefensible.
On the matter of tribalism, Machoka firmly rejected the accusations, reiterating his commitment to unity:
“I have never engaged in or promoted any form of ethnic-based discourse in my decades-long media career,” he stated.
Machoka’s legal team highlighted his distinguished career spanning 47 years in the broadcast industry, noting that he has earned both national and international recognition. They also pointed out his large Facebook following of over 480,000 users, arguing that Alai’s post had an even wider impact due to the direct tag.
