Political Activist Asks Court to Summon President Ruto, Gachagua to Testify in Cyber Case

A political activist, Nuru Maloba Okanga, who is facing charges of computer misuse, has urged the court to call the president, William Ruto, and his former Deputy, Geoffrey Rigati Gachagua, to give their testimony on his case.

Through his team of lawyers led by Sheria Mtaani na Shadrack Wambui, Okanga applied before the Milimani Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi to give summons to the president and his former deputy to give their testimony,

“I would request this honourable court to issue a summons to Ruto and Gachagua to appear in court for cross-examining them on the allegations about our client,” Wambui submitted.

The political activist who is also aspiring to contest Khorera Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) was charged last year with Computer Misuse and Cyber Harassment Crime by publishing false, defamatory and threatening information online while using the TikTok account dubbed, Riba News @ribanews and Siasa_tv_ke_backup and YouTube Channel to wit “…Nuru Okanga Rigathi Gachagua Piga Ruto Risasi…,” knowing it to be false and well calculated to cause fear, panic among the citizens of Kenya and destroy the reputation of the executive of the leadership of the Republic of Kenya.

In the video that was played in court, Okanga was heard claiming that the former deputy president was a District Officer (DO) during the late former president Moi’s era, and he knows how to use a gun.

The defence team, led by Wambui, Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, Ken Echesa, among others, wanted to know who the complainant is in the matter, urging the prosecution to disclose him.

“We want to know who this Ruto is to appear in court for cross-examination,” Babu submitted.

In his application through Wambui, the lead counsel, he wanted the court to summon President Ruto to confirm that his deputy, by then, intended to shoot him after instructions from Okanga.

“I want the president to come to court to confirm the allegations that my client instructed his former deputy to shoot him for the court to be fair in delivering justice,” Wambui told the Magistrate.

Wambui proceeded to urge the court to summon Rigathi Gachagua to testify and confirm whether he was a DO during the era of the late former president Moi.

He further wanted Gachagua to confirm to the court that Nuru Okanga advised him to shoot President Ruto.

In her ruling, the Magistrate stated that the court cannot compel the prosecution to call as a witness to prove their case unless the person is key to helping the court to give justice.

“I have noted the submissions by the defence team and that of the prosecution. In my view, it is not the work of the court to compel the prosecution to call certain witnesses to prove their case unless a specified witness is crucial to help the court in giving justice,” the Magistrate said.

The court also noted that the prosecution had stated that they had closed their case after producing their last witness to testify.

The Magistrate further noted that the prosecution states to be the complainant in the matter on behalf of the Republic.

In determination, the Magistrate said that, ” I have accorded to the prosecution admitting to closing their case since the court will rely on the evidence produced before it on whether the accused person has the case to answer or not.”

She will deliver the ruling on whether Okanga will be put on his defence or not on January 18, 2026.