Webster Ochora Elijah, an author, was arrested on Monday, June 2, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over a book he published about Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto.
Ochora faces allegations of identity theft under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, relating to his book titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising. Authorities claim the author used Charlene Ruto’s identity without her consent.
Following the arrest, police also wrote to the book’s publisher to investigate the financing behind the publication and identify any other individuals involved.
Ochora is currently detained at Muthaiga Police Station and is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. In addition, law enforcement has seized Ochora’s laptop to conduct a forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
Legal representatives for the author have condemned the arrest, describing it as unlawful. Lawyer Kennedy Mongare stated that Ochora is an established writer, having authored books about notable figures including former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former U.S. President Donald Trump.
“The young man detained here is a publisher and author who has produced several works. He was in the process of writing a positive piece on Charlene Ruto. It is unfortunate that he was arrested without due process,” Mongare said.
