Kenyan free speech advocates, legal experts, and writers are raising alarm after the arrest and prosecution of Webster Ochora Elijah, a 25-year-old author of an unauthorized biography of President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto. The book, titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising, was self-published and has limited circulation.
Elijah was arrested and charged with impersonation and intent to defraud, allegedly for using Charlene Ruto’s name without consent. He pleaded not guilty and has been released on bail. Charlene, the complainant in the case, said the author never sought permission, regardless of the book’s tone. She claimed the case was about “misuse of someone’s name,” not its content.
Critics argue that writing unauthorized biographies is not a criminal offence, citing precedent, including a 2014 biography of former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Lawyers, including Willis Otieno and Evan Ondieki, warn the case sets a dangerous precedent for criminalizing authorship and political commentary. The controversy adds to broader concerns about free expression in Kenya, especially following the recent arrest of software developer Rose Njeri, who was detained for creating a digital tool to oppose the government’s finance bill. She, too, faces charges under cybercrime laws.
Charlene Ruto, a prominent public figure likened by some to Ivanka Trump, has previously been the subject of scrutiny regarding the so-called “Office of the First Daughter,” which she denies receives public funds. The case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over media freedom, digital rights, and the role of public figures in a democratic society.
