The Milimani Commercial Court has issued temporary orders restraining Cape Media Limited, the owner of TV47, from referring to advocate Danstan Omari as a “self-proclaimed lawyer” or “self-proclaimed advocate” pending the hearing of a defamation suit filed by the lawyer.
The interim orders were issued by Senior Principal Magistrate A. Nyoike after the court certified Omari’s application as urgent and directed that it be heard on an inter partes basis on August 3, 2026.
Pending the hearing, the court barred TV47, its directors, editors, journalists, employees, agents and any other persons acting on its behalf from publishing, broadcasting or distributing the disputed descriptions through any of its platforms, including television broadcasts, its website and social media accounts.
The orders also prohibit the broadcaster from publishing statements suggesting that Omari is not a duly qualified and practising advocate of the High Court of Kenya until the application is determined.
In the application before the court, Omari argues that the publications have caused significant damage to both his professional reputation and personal standing.
“The Defendant has made defamatory statements that continue to spread, inflicting severe and irreversible damage to the Plaintiff’s reputation, career, and personal life,” the court filing states.
The advocate further contends that the publications have exposed him to ridicule and professional embarrassment, making immediate court intervention necessary.
“The Defendant’s deliberate defamatory statements towards the Plaintiff expose him to public ridicule, scorn and professional ruin,” the application further states.
Through his advocate, Shadrack Wambui, Omari is also seeking a mandatory injunction compelling TV47 to remove and permanently disable access to a publication titled “TV47 stands by Exposé as Prophet Owuor’s Church seeks its removal”, together with related articles, videos, reposts and uploads published across its platforms.
In addition, the lawyer is seeking Ksh20 million in general and aggravated damages for alleged libel arising from the publications.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on August 3, 2026, when both parties are expected to argue the application before the court determines whether the interim orders should remain in force pending the hearing of the main suit.
