Africa-Press – Kenya. A potential high-profile defamation suit by Senior Advocate Cliff Ombeta against Advocate trainee Adrian Oluoch was resolved amicably on Friday.
The settlement followed a mediation session convened by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko at his Upper Hill office, effectively ending a legal standoff that had captured significant social media attention.
The controversy originated from remarks made by Oluoch during an interview on Obinna TV, aired on December 16.
The comments triggered immediate backlash, prompting Ombeta and fellow lawyer Danstan Omari to issue formal demand letters through Wambui Shadrack & Associates Advocates.
The legal notices, addressed to both Oluoch and show host Steve Thompson Magana (Oga Obinna), demanded a retraction, a public apology, and the immediate removal of the offending content.
The demand letters highlighted Ombeta’s standing as a respected legal practitioner and lecturer, asserting that the broadcasted statements had caused “immeasurable and irreparable reputational damage.”
The letters warned that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings “at your expense, and with no further reference to you whatsoever.”
During a joint press briefing following the mediation, Ombeta revealed that while he initially intended to ignore the remarks, the volume of concern from colleagues globally necessitated a formal response.
“Together with Danstan Omari, we decided to act,” Ombeta stated.
He noted that although he was fully prepared to pursue the matter in court, he accepted Sonko’s intervention to seek a non-adversarial resolution.
A key outcome of the meeting was the formal withdrawal of the complaint from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Ombeta emphasised a mentorship-first approach, noting that they did not wish to seek monetary damages or jeopardise Oluoch’s career development or eventual upcoming admission to the bar.
“Tunaachia hapa. We are not asking for damages,” he said, adding that they did not want to jeopardise Oluoch’s career.
“I have no beef. I don’t want to follow on this matter. We have agreed to let it go. It’s water under the bridge.”
However, Ombeta warned digital content creators, clarifying that general disclaimers on media platforms do not provide absolute immunity from litigation.
“Publishing a statement made with ill-intent against another person remains a legal issue,” he cautioned.
Oluoch, also present at the briefing, clarified that his original comments were intended to highlight the senior lawyers’ extensive professional networks within the judiciary, rather than to disparage them.
He expressed gratitude for the resolution, stating, “I have apologized officially and taken full responsibility. We are now on good terms, and I look forward to emulating their professional success.”
The resolution marks a significant instance of alternative dispute resolution within the Kenyan legal community.
It underscored the importance of responsible speech in the digital age and the potential for mediation to settle complex defamation claims.
