Nuru Maloba Okanga, 32, has been charged with insulting President William Ruto on November 20, 2023, after causing a social media controversy after sitting for the 2023 KCPE exams.
When he appeared before Mlimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, the Bunge la Wananchi member rejected the charges leveled against him.
On November 20, 2023, Okanga was accused of disseminating fraudulent information on his YouTube channel, Riba News.
He is accused of spreading a video captioned “Nuru Okanga on Fire.” Okanga allegedly makes unprintable remarks (insults) to the Head of State in the video.
Okanga’s bail application was not opposed by the prosecution.
He was granted Sh10,000 cash bail and confined in the court cells while his family arranged to pay the payment.
The case was scheduled for pre-trial investigation on December 13, 2023.
The Chief Magistrate directed the prosecution to furnish witness testimonies to the accused in order for him to prepare his defense.
Dennis Itumbi, President William Ruto’s digital secretary, has denounced the detention of ODM supporter Nuru Okanga on allegations of insulting President William Ruto.
However, in a message on his X Twitter, Itumbi termed the charges brought against the ODM supporter as unjustified, adding that they were not sanctioned by President Ruto.
“I completely oppose the idea of arresting bloggers for insulting the President.” “Whoever is doing it, wacheni kabisa,” Itumbi remarked, adding that “there actually exists a right to offend, shock, or disturb.””I know for a fact that President William Ruto has important things to do and is not interested in such drama and arrests; in fact, he is unaware of them.” So, who exactly is the complainant? Bloggers, wajiexpress! Tafuteni kazi.
The ODM’s Communication Director, Philip Etale, shared the sentiments, stating that freedom of speech and expression is a constitutional guarantee.
“Our forefathers and second liberation agitators in Kenya fought for freedom of speech and expression.” They are written into the Constitution. It is unacceptable to arrest Nuru Okanga for speaking truth to power. He is free to criticize anyone, including the President,” he state
d.