Charlene Ruto accepts apology, drops criminal case against author Webster Ochora: "We reconciled"

Charlene Ruto withdrew her case against author Webster Ochora after a reconciliation agreement anchored on an apology and binding conditions...

• Charlene Ruto withdrew her case against author Webster Ochora after a reconciliation agreement anchored on an apology and binding conditions
• Ochora is barred from publishing, distributing, or transferring rights to the disputed book or any material referencing Charlene
• The court marked the case as withdrawn but set a mention for October 6, 2025, for further directions
• Any breach of the terms will expose Ochora to civil remedies, with the withdrawal not serving as a defence

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at Best for you.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has formally withdrawn a criminal case against author Webster Ochora Elijah.

This was after the two reached a reconciliation agreement anchored on an apology and binding conditions.

The move, confirmed before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki on Monday, September 22, ends months of legal proceedings.

Ochora was arrested earlier this year by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after being accused of impersonating Charlene by authoring and circulating the book without her consent.

Investigators said the book used her name and image, creating the impression that she had authored it.

The 25-year-old was later released on a bond of KSh100,000 or a cash bail of KSh50,000, with the court ruling that he was not a flight risk.

What were conditions for withdrawing Ochora's case

A letter presented to the court confirmed that the accused had offered an apology, which Charlene accepted, leading to an amicable resolution.

The consent was filed under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution, both of which encourage alternative dispute resolution.

As part of the settlement, Ochora is barred from publishing, distributing, or disseminating his book Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth, or any other material referencing Charlene either directly or indirectly.

He is also prohibited from transferring rights to the book for purposes such as production, publication, or adaptation.

"The accused shall not publish, distribute, disseminate, or cause to be published in any form or medium the book or any material containing content referring to or purporting to narrate in the first person the events forming the subject matter of this case," the agreement states.

Any breach of the conditions will give Charlene the right to seek civil remedies, with the withdrawal of the criminal case not serving as a defence.

The agreement effectively shields Charlene from any further unauthorised use of her name or identity in relation to the disputed book.

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Why will Ochora's case be mentioned?

The case, registered as MCCR No. 314 of 2025, has been marked as withdrawn following the reconciliation.

However, Magistrate Ondieki scheduled a mention for October 6, 2025, for further directions by the court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), represented by state prosecutor Esther Mutisya, told the court that her office had received the consent request from Ochora’s defence lawyer, Evans Ondieki, and needed more time to seek instructions.

The magistrate, citing the constitutional principle of promoting amicable dispute resolution, allowed the request.

Earlier in July, Charlene failed to appear in court, prompting Ochora’s legal team to seek an acquittal on grounds of want of prosecution.

His lawyer argued that her absence showed she was no longer interested in pursuing the case.