Gospel artist and motivational speaker Rozina Mwakideu has defended her remarks about her former husband, pastor and motivational speaker Robert Burale.
She insisted that everything she said in a disputed video interview was true, fair comment, and constitutionally protected expression.
In an affidavit filed before Milimani Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki, Rozina opposed Burale’s application seeking an injunction to pull down the video interview published on Alex Mwakideu TV.
Through her sworn statement, Rozina said her comments in the interview were based on personal experiences during her one-year marriage to Burale, which ended over a decade ago.
She described the marriage as “the darkest period” of her life and maintained that her words were “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”
Rozina told the court she had a right to respond to Burale’s earlier appearance on the same show, where he discussed their marriage and invited her to tell her side of the story.
“My appearance on the show was a right of reply and constitutionally protected speech,” she stated.
She accused Burale of repeatedly making misleading public comments about their past relationship and said she had warned him as early as 2018 to stop misrepresenting her.
She also produced email exchanges and messages from their time together, which she said corroborated her statements.
Rozina further argued that Burale’s defamation claim amounts to a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP) intended to silence her.
“Survivors of domestic violence whether physical, mental, or psychological should be free to tell their stories without fear of retaliatory lawsuits,” she said.
She added that she spoke calmly and truthfully in the interview, denying any malice or intent to harm Burale’s reputation.
“My language and tone were restrained, respectful, and sincere,” she said, adding that she had not uploaded or distributed the video after it was recorded.
Rozina also asked the court to dismiss Burale’s request for orders compelling the removal of the video and prohibiting “all social media users” from engaging with it, calling such requests “orders in vain.”
“My words constitute personal reflections and opinions protected under Article 33(1)(a) of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees every individual the freedom to express their thoughts, beliefs, and opinions.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki directed that the petition be dispensed with through written submissions to be filed within 30 days.
The court declined to order the removal of the video, but granted an interim injunction restraining further publication or circulation of the impugned video on any other social media platform pending the case’s determination.
The matter will be mentioned on February 25, 2026, for further directions.
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