Court Acquits Activist Nuru Okanga in Cybercrime Case Against President Ruto
Politics Updated: 20 January 2026 16:17 EAT
Embakasi East Mp Babu Owino and the political activist Nuru Okanga
A Nairobi court has acquitted political activist Nuru Okanga of all charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act linked to alleged threats against President William Ruto, after ruling that the State failed to prove its case. The decision was delivered on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Milimani Law Courts by Magistrate Rose Ndombi.
Okanga faced three counts accusing him of publishing false, defamatory, and threatening content online, including a video purportedly containing remarks perceived as targeting the President. Prosecutors argued that the posts amounted to cyber harassment and misuse of digital platforms.
Magistrate Ndombi found that the prosecution did not present sufficient evidence tying Okanga to the alleged content. The court noted the absence of verifiable digital trails, unrecovered electronic devices, and lawful search warrants necessary to establish his involvement.
The magistrate emphasized that criminal liability in cybercrime cases must be supported by clear and admissible evidence, not speculation or conjecture. She concluded that Okanga had no case to answer, effectively dismissing the charges at the preliminary stage of the trial.
Okanga, represented by lawyer and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, hailed the ruling as a win for due process and constitutional rights, stressing the importance of proper investigative procedures before charging individuals in digital offence cases.
The acquittal comes after Okanga was initially charged in mid‑2024 for allegedly posting threatening content online and had been out on bail during the ongoing investigation. Analysts say the case underscores the need for strict evidentiary standards in Kenya’s cybercrime enforcement.
Civil rights advocates view the ruling as a significant precedent for freedom of expression online, reinforcing judicial scrutiny over digital evidence and the proper application of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD