Webster Ochora Elijah, the man accused of publishing a book about Charlene Ruto without her permission, has been released on a cash bail of Ksh 50,000.
Appearing before the court, Ochora pleaded not guilty to charges of identity theft against Charlene, the daughter of President William Ruto. The court set June 17 as the date the case will be heard.
Ochora was arrested on June 2 with detectives claiming that he authored and published a book about Charlene titled, Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising, without her consent.
After his arrest, he was held at Muthaiga Police Station, accused of violating the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) seized his laptop as part of the ongoing evidence-gathering process.
The police have begun investigating an individual who funded and facilitated the authorship and publication of the book.
Charlene explained that she reported Ochora to the DCI because he did not seek her consent before publishing the book.
Speaking to the Press on June 3, at Wareng High School, Charlene asked the youths not to look for opportunities in the wrong way.
"He didn't get my permission before writing that book. We have a culture in this country where we misuse people's names and get away with it. It is not right, and that is not what I stand for," Charlene said.
Charlene said that at her own time, she would write her book, saying what Ochora did was wrong. She explained that the issue was not about the content in the book but more about respect for each other in society.
"No one will write your book for you, so write it for yourself when you are ready. I just didn't like that someone misused my name. It is about respecting each other and consulting," she added.
Kennedy Mong’are, the family lawyer, claimed that Ochora is a renowned author and publisher who has authored books on notable figures such as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and United States President Donald Trump, and that the arrest was uncalled for.
