The High Court in Kisii has temporarily restrained Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka from repeating or publishing claims alleging that Governor Simba Arati hired goons to attack a Senate team during an oversight visit to the county in June 2025.
The interim orders were issued in a defamation case filed by Governor Arati against the senator.
The court barred Onyonka, his agents or anyone acting on his behalf from uttering, publishing or disseminating material similar to the statements complained of through print media, WhatsApp and social media platforms pending further proceeding.
The dispute dates back to June 9, 2025, when a Senate Budget and Finance Committee delegation visited Kisii as part of an oversight exercise concerning the county government’s finances.
Following an incident during the visit, Onyonka publicly accused Arati of organising people to disrupt the Senate team’s work.
The senator alleged that the attack was intended to frustrate the committee’s scrutiny of Kisii County’s books and spending.
Onyonka said at the time that the Senate delegation had travelled to Kisii to conduct its constitutional oversight role and claimed that violence was being used to divert attention from questions surrounding the county’s financial management.
Arati subsequently moved to court, arguing that statements attributed to the senator were false and defamatory and had damaged his reputation as governor.
In his court filings, Arati alleged that the publications portrayed him as a leader associated with violence and criminal gangs, while also making claims concerning the management of county resources and procurement. These are allegations contained in the court proceedings and have not been established as facts by the court.
The court’s order is temporary and does not amount to a final determination that Onyonka’s allegations were false or defamatory.
The substantive case is still pending determination.
The court has directed Onyonka to respond to the application, with further directions to be issued as the defamation proceedings continue.
The case adds another chapter to the long-running political disagreement between the Kisii senator and governor, with their differences repeatedly playing out over county leadership, accountability and oversight.
