Charlene Ruto Drops Case, Forgives Author Elijah Ochora for Writing Unauthorised Book About Her

charlene ruto
Charlene Ruto, daughter to President William Ruto, speaking at past event on May 27, 2025.
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Charlene Ruto

Author Webster Elijah Ochora is a free man after Charlene Ruto forgave him for writing an unauthorised book about her.

In a statement released by the President’s daughter on Monday, July 28, Charlene revealed that she had pardoned Ochora, who had been sued over the book’s publication, opting to settle the matter out of court.

Charlene attributed her decision to turn the other cheek to Ochora's persistent appeals to her lawyers for forgiveness, as well as to her role as a youth champion committed to positive dialogue and responsible leadership.

“Over the past few weeks, I have received persistent appeals through my legal counsel (Kachapin & Company Advocates) from Webster Ochora Elijah. His words and the sincerity behind them have touched me deeply,” Charlene noted. 

An undated photo of Webster Ochora Elijah
An undated photo of Webster Ochora Elijah
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“As a youth champion and as someone deeply committed to positive dialogue and responsible leadership, I have chosen to extend forgiveness. I have also agreed to pursue alternative dispute resolution outside the courts,” she added.

Detectives arrested Ochora on Monday, June 2, 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, Ochora was detained at Muthaiga Police Station and later charged with identity theft under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.

In her statement, Charlene explained that she had initially sought legal action not only to protect her name but also to stand up for the many people, especially young people, who suffer in silence from online abuse with no voice and no avenue for justice.

“People whose careers have been damaged, whose mental health has been compromised, and whose dignity has been stripped away by targeted digital attacks,” she noted.

However, at the height of his arrest, Ochora, through his lawyer Kennedy Mong’are, asserted that the book meant no harm and aimed to project the positive works and accomplishments that the president's daughter has done over the years.

Mong’are added that Ochora was a renowned author and publisher who had 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.

Senior advocate Evans Ondieki, who branded Ochora's arrest as unlawful, claimed that it was politically motivated and aimed at suppressing his freedom of expression.

Ruto Heckling
President William Ruto speaking at the Nairobi Securities Exchange for the bell-ringing to celebrate the listing of the Linzi Asset-Backed Security on July 23, 2025.
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