Gen Z author Webster Ochora has been arrested for allegedly using President Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto’s name and image in a self-published book without her consent.
The book, titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising, reportedly explores the role of youth in Kenya and Charlene Ruto’s public presence.
DCI Detectives arrested Ochora under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act. Authorities claim he impersonated or misused the identity of Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto.
Ochora is currently being held at Muthaiga Police Station. His devices, including a laptop, were seized for forensic analysis. The full contents of the book are not yet known to the public.
His legal team, led by lawyers Evans Ondieki and Kennedy Mong’are, has strongly condemned the arrest. They argue that Ochora was exercising his constitutional right to free speech. According to Ondieki, public figures, especially those in political families, should be open to scrutiny.
“This is a young man expressing himself creatively,” Ondieki said.
“When you are associated with public office, you surrender part of your privacy. Arresting him is an attack on democracy.”
Mong’are described the arrest as premature and said his client had no ill intent.
“He has written books on Donald Trump and Raila Odinga. He was working on a positive project about Charlene Ruto.”
So far, Charlene Ruto has not commented publicly on the arrest. And it is still unclear whether she filed a formal complaint.
By Vivian K.