Kenyan digital personality and blogger Edgar Obare has been ordered to pay KSh6 million in damages after losing a high-profile defamation case filed by model Bernice Nunah and her co-plaintiff, Kelvin Kaume Maingi. The ruling, marks one of the most consequential legal blows Obare has faced in his career and underscores the growing accountability attached to digital content creation in Kenya’s fast-evolving online landscape.
The case stems from a December 22, 2022 post Obare published on his platforms, which the court found to be false, defamatory, and damaging to the plaintiffs’ reputations. According to court documents, the remarks made against Nunah and Maingi were deemed injurious, reckless, and published without sufficient verification. As a result, the court held Obare liable for defamation and awarded substantial monetary compensation to the complainants.
In its decision, the court directed Obare to pay Sh4 million in general damages—split evenly between Nunah and Maingi—and an additional Sh2 million in exemplary (aggravated) damages, also divided equally between the two. The judge noted that the aggravated damages were justified due to the nature of the publication and the blogger’s conduct, which the court found to be particularly malicious and dismissive of the reputational harm caused.
Beyond the financial penalty, the ruling came with several additional directives aimed at restoring the complainants’ dignity. The court ordered Obare to issue a full and unconditional public apology, retract the defamatory publication, and publicly correct the falsehoods previously aired about the plaintiffs. A permanent injunction was also issued, barring him from making any further defamatory remarks or posts about Nunah.
For Nunah, the ruling is a vindication after years of online scrutiny and ridicule following the viral post. Her legal team argued that the defamatory claims had far-reaching consequences, including emotional distress, reputational damage, and professional setbacks. The court agreed, citing the widespread reach Obare commands online and the intensity with which his audience often engages with his content.
The Obare case is particularly significant due to the blogger’s standing in Kenya’s online ecosystem. Known for breaking celebrity news, relationship scandals, and influencer controversies, Obare’s brand thrives on exclusivity and sensationalism. However, this approach has repeatedly put him at odds with personalities who claim his content crosses lines into defamation. Several public figures—including influencers, politicians, and business personalities—have previously threatened or initiated legal action against him, though few have reached this level of judgment.
The outcome of this case may reshape the content strategies of Kenya’s digital creators, many of whom operate in a grey zone where the pursuit of online engagement often clashes with ethical and legal obligations.
Following the judgment, Obare through his social media,set up an appeal for financial aid to seek a legal appeal of the ruling. Public posts circulating shortly after the ruling hinted at financial distress and suggested he might seek support from fans.
For now, the court’s decision stands as a decisive win for Nunah and Maingi—and a strong warning to Kenya’s online creators.