Nuru Okanga charged, Itumbi demands for his release

By Peter Ochieng

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s diehard supporter Nuru Okanga was on Thursday, 30th April, 2023 arraigned in court for insulting President William Ruto.

He was charged with spreading false information on a YouTube channel when he appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.

Okanga allegedly abused Ruto on 20th November 2023, contrary to the Cybercrime Act. He denied the charges.

"On November 20, at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court using a YouTube account published online a video with intimidating and abusive words,” the charge sheet read in part.

The court directed the accused to deposit a cash bail of Sh10,000 to secure his release, as the matter was fixed for pre-trial on 13th December 2023.

Meanwhile, Dennis Itumbi, a digital strategist in President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration wants Okanga released without conditions, calling out those who arrested him in the first place. Itumbi, through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) page claimed that President Ruto was not aware of Okanga’s arrest.

“I completely disagree with the idea of arresting bloggers for insulting the president. Whoever is doing it, stop. Please lawyer @W_Kinuthiah if Nuru Okanga agrees represent him in court at my cost. There actually exists a right to offend, shock, or disturb. I know for a fact that President William Ruto has serious stuff to do and is not interested in such drama and arrests, he does not even know about it. So who exactly is the complainant? Wachaneni na bloggers, wajiexpress! Tafuteni kazi ingine (Leave bloggers alone to express themselves. Look for another job to do,” he stated.

Nuru Okanga was arrested on 29th November 2023, and taken to Central Police Station, Nairobi, before the prosecution preferred criminal charges against him.

The ODM political activist allegedly breached the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, which states that anyone found guilty of spreading false information online is liable to a fine of Sh5 million, imprisonment of five years, or both.