Police in Nairobi have detained an author in connection with a possible case of identity theft related to a book about President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto.
Webster Ochora Elijah, currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station, is under investigation under the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act, over his book titled “Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising,” which detectives say was not commissioned or authorised by Charlene Ruto.
Speaking outside the police station on Monday, June 2, 2025, Ochora’s legal team condemned the arrest, terming it a violation of his constitutional rights.
“Webster Ochora was arrested on suspicion of having stolen Charlene Ruto’s identity. It is normal. It is within the framework of freedom of speech for any Kenyan, particularly the young and employed Kenyans, to use those images for purposes of communicating and freedom of speech,” Senior Advocate Evans Ondieki said.
The lawyer argued that Kenya’s democratic principles should protect such creative works, emphasising that public figures should expect scrutiny and commentary.
“Kenya is a democracy. If we are so sensitive that we are arresting our young men for being creative… We urge our public officers, particularly the presidency, to be fair to accommodate all sorts of criticism because that is the essence of democracy. When you’re elected or associated with public office, you surrender about 50% of your right to privacy. You cannot be so thick-skinned that the use of your name or image becomes an offence,” Ondieki asserted.
Family lawyer Kennedy Mong’are described Ochora as an established publisher who has authored books about prominent figures, including Donald Trump and Raila Odinga.
Mong’are noted that the biography of Charlene Ruto was similarly meant to be a positive project.
“The young man detained here is a publisher, an author who has authored so many books. Books for Donald Trump, books for Raila Amollo Odinga and was in the process of working on a positive publication for Charlene Ruto. But, it’s unfortunate that without due process, he is now detained,” Mong’are stated.
Detectives have confiscated Ochora’s laptop as digital evidence as he is expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
