Webstar Ochora: Man Accused of Impersonating Charlene Ruto, Writing Book On Her Freed on KSh50k Bail
- Webstar Ochora Elijah, a 25-year-old Kisii University graduate, has been released on bail after being charged with impersonating Charlene Ruto by publishing a book on her
- The book, titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising, was allegedly released without her consent, leading to Ochora’s arrest
- Ochora pleaded not guilty at Milimani Law Courts and was granted a KSh 100,000 bond or KSh 50,000 cash bail, with the case set for mention on June 17, 2025
- His lawyers, Senior Counsel Evans Ondieki and Kennedy Mong’are, had earlier called the charges a violation of free speech
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - A 25-year-old Kisii University graduate who found himself at the centre of a storm for allegedly impersonating President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has been freed.
Source: Original
Webstar Ochora Elijah appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Tuesday, June 3, where he was charged with personation after allegedly publishing a book under Charlene’s name.
According to the charge sheet, Ochora, operating under the trade name Zawadi Publishers, is accused of falsely presenting himself as Charlene and publishing a book titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising.
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Ochora was arrested on Monday, May 30, without a warrant and has been held in custody at Muthaiga Police Station.
He was charged with one count of personation contrary to Section 382(1) of the Penal Code.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, Ochora denied the charges and was released on a bond of KSh 100,000 or an alternative cash bail of KSh 50,000.
The matter is set to be mentioned again on June 17, 2025.
The complainant in the case is the first daughter, with investigations led by the Special Crimes Unit under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Officers are also conducting forensic analysis on Ochora’s seized laptop and digital devices to determine the full scope of his alleged activities.
Why Ochora's lawyer dismissed the case against him
Senior Counsel Evans Ondieki, who visited Ochora during his detention, dismissed the charges as an overreach by the state.
Source: UGC
He framed the issue as one of free expression and accused law enforcement of violating Ochora’s constitutional rights.
"This young man, who has been arrested on suspicion of having stolen Charlene Ruto’s identity, is a victim of a system that is overly sensitive to public criticism. It is normal. It is within the framework of freedom of speech for any Kenyan, particularly the young and unemployed, to use public figures in their creative work," said Ondieki.
Kennedy Mong’are, representing Ochora’s family, called the arrest premature and lacking in legal merit.
He pointed out that Ochora had written similar books on other public figures without incident.
"He is a publisher and author. He has authored books on Donald Trump, Raila Odinga, and was in the process of writing a positive piece about Charlene Ruto. But it’s unfortunate that without due process, he’s been detained," Mong’are said.
The defence argued that public figures, especially those from political families, are not immune to public commentary or creative expression.
Teacher impersonates Ruto's daughter
Earlier this year, a man appeared in court facing charges for impersonating one of Ruto’s daughters.
Samwel Mogwasi Mainga, a teacher, was accused of pretending to be June Ruto on Facebook.
Police arrested him in Mombasa while he was escorting JSS students to a national sports competition.
Authorities said Mainga posted on a Facebook profile claiming to be the president’s daughter on two occasions: March 20 and April 8, 2025.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Brian Ajon (Entertainment Editor) Brian Ajon is a journalist accredited by The Media Council of Kenya with five years of experience in print and digital media. At Tuko.co.ke, he is an Entertainment Editor (joined in 2021). He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Media Technology with IT from Maseno University. Ajon is also the Newsletter Editor of the Maseno University Alumni Association (MSU-AA) and He is keen on entertainment and viral stories. Email: brian.ajon@tuko.co.ke.
Didacus Malowa (Political and current affairs editor) Didacus Malowa is a political and current affairs editor at TUKO.co.ke. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Media Technology with IT from Maseno University in 2021. He has over two years of experience in digital journalism. Email: didacus.malowa@tuko.co.ke
