The High Court in Kisii has issued fresh orders temporarily restraining Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka from publishing or disseminating material alleged to be defamatory against Governor Simba Arati, adding a new legal dimension to the increasingly bitter political dispute between the two leaders.
The orders were issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during proceedings in Kisii, with the court restricting the senator from publishing or circulating material complained of in the defamation dispute pending the hearing of the matter.
The latest development comes in a case arising from claims by Governor Arati that statements attributed to Onyonka have damaged his reputation and portrayed him negatively before members of the public.
The dispute between the two leaders had previously reached the High Court in June, when Arati obtained interim orders restraining Onyonka from publishing or disseminating material similar to the statements complained of through print media, WhatsApp and social media platforms. The earlier proceedings were filed as Civil Case No. HCCC/E004/2026.
In the earlier court proceedings, Arati alleged that publications attributed to Onyonka contained false and damaging claims concerning his character, leadership and conduct in office. The governor argued that the publications had exposed him to ridicule, contempt and reputational damage.
Among the allegations cited in Arati’s court filings were claims portraying him as lacking integrity and as being associated with threats, violence, criminal gangs, mismanagement of county resources and violations of procurement requirements. These remain allegations made in court and have not been established as facts by the court.
Arati had also sought orders compelling the removal or deletion of allegedly defamatory posts, videos and articles published through platforms including WhatsApp and Facebook.
The renewed court action comes against the backdrop of heightened political competition in Kisii, where Onyonka has declared his intention to challenge Arati for the governorship in the 2027 General Election. The senator has continued to scrutinise the county government, while Arati has pushed back against what his administration describes as attacks on his leadership.
The political rivalry has increasingly spilled into public rallies, social media exchanges and now the courts, turning the dispute into one of the most closely watched political battles in Kisii ahead of the next election.
The latest order does not amount to a final finding that Onyonka defamed Arati. It is an interim court measure pending further proceedings and determination of the substantive issues raised in the case.
Attention will now turn to the next stage of the court proceedings, including Onyonka’s response to the allegations and the eventual determination of the governor’s defamation claims.
The case therefore remains active, with the High Court expected to consider the competing arguments before making a final determination on the alleged defamatory publications.
