Uproar Over Raila Diehard Nuru Okanga's Arrest For Insulting Ruto

An uproar ensued on Thursday, November 30 after Nuru Maloba Okanga was on Wednesday arrested and subsequently arraigned at the Milimani Law Court.

Okanga, a die-hard supporter of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), was charged with spreading false information about President William Ruto contrary to the law.

According to a charge sheet obtained by Viral Tea, Okanga was alleged to have published a controversial video about the President on his YouTube channel.

"On the 20th day of November 2023 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before the court, using the YouTube Account/Channel, published online a video with abusive words.

"Information you knew to be false and calculated to discredit the reputation of a state officer and with intent to provoke a breach of the peace," read the charge sheet in part.

The aspiring politician was accused of breaching 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 Ksh5 million, imprisonment of five years, or both.

In the video, Okanga was heard allegedly threatening President Ruto as well as some of his allies while complaining that the current government was undermining the opposition, led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

The same clip also saw him criticise the Kenya Kwanza government, culminating in his arrest.

After denying the charges, Okanga urged the court to release him on reasonable bail terms saying he would abide by all conditions set by the court. Nairobi Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina however granted him a cash bail of Ksh10,000, with the matter fixed for pre-trial on December 13, 2023.

Okanga's arrest sparked backlash, with Digital Strategist, Dennis Itumbi once again coming to the defence of bloggers arrested for alleged insults towards the Head of State, promising that he would foot the legal costs should Okanga face a legal battle.

Itumbi also claimed that President Ruto was focused on more important matters and not on petty issues that he does not even know about.

"I completely disagree with the idea of arresting bloggers for insulting the president. Whoever is doing it wacheni kabisa (should stop completely). 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! (let bloggers express themselves)," he stated on X.

Human rights activist Boniface Mwangi stated on his part "This charge is silly, and a waste of the court’s time. Okanga is entitled to his own opinion. Going after a nobody is a sign of weakness by President Ruto."

Okanga on Wednesday indicated in a Facebook post that officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had arrested him without reason.

Azimio loyalists Calvin Gaucho, Nuru Okanga and Charles Ooko MC Olondo while in handcuffs. /TWITTER