Talia Oyando dismisses Colonel Mustafa's claims of love triangle involving E-Sir

Veteran Kenyan radio presenter Talia Oyando has pushed back against claims by musician Colonel Mustafa that the two were romantically involved in a love triangle with the late hip-hop icon E-Sir, calling the allegations fabricated and disrespectful to the deceased artist's legacy.

Colonel Mustafa, known for his collaborations in Kenya's early 2000s urban music scene, recently made the assertions in a public forum, suggesting that he and E-Sir had competed for Oyando's affections before the beloved rapper's untimely death in 2003. E-Sir, whose real name was Issah Mmari, died at 22 in a road accident along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway alongside fellow musician Swaleh Lali, cutting short what many considered the most promising career in Kenyan hip-hop history.

Oyando, who built her reputation as one of Kenya's most respected broadcasters across stations including Kiss FM and Capital FM, addressed the claims directly, stating she had no romantic involvement with either party and questioned the timing and motive behind Mustafa's statements.

"It is disappointing when someone invokes the name of a person who can no longer speak for themselves," she said in comments widely circulated on Kenyan social media.

Fans and entertainment commentators have largely sided with Oyando, noting that E-Sir's memory remains deeply revered in Kenya more than two decades after his death. His music, including hits such as "Hamnitishi" and "Moss Moss," continues to be celebrated as foundational to the country's contemporary music identity.

Colonel Mustafa has yet to provide corroborating evidence for his claims, and the controversy has drawn renewed attention to the broader issue of posthumous reputation management within the Kenyan entertainment industry.