TikTok Activist Charged with Extortion from Cooperative Bank

A TikTok user and street activist, Joseph Gitonga Kihanya, alias Gitonga Archives, was today arraigned before a Nairobi court over allegations of extortion of Ksh 500,000 from Cooperative Bank. 

Appearing before City Court Magistrate Grace Ouko, Kihanya denied the charge of demanding Property with Menaces, which is contrary to Section 302 of the Penal Code, which the Director of Public Prosecutions levelled against him.

He is accused of demanding Sh 500,000 from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a cooperative bank employee, and threatening to tarnish the bank’s reputation on social media.

The court heard that the accused posted defamatory content about Cooperative Bank of Kenya and its staff on his social media accounts.

The charge sheet reads that between July 20 and July 27, 2025, within Nairobi County, Kihanya, jointly with another person not before the court, with menaces demanded a sum of Sh 500,000 from Hunja with the intent to steal.

The court heard that the street activist had posted claims on his TikTok account alleging that Ksh 1.6 billion had been stolen from client accounts at Cooperative Bank.

He allegedly contacted the complainant, Hunja, and demanded payment for pulling down the post and halting further defamatory content.

“Kihanya told me plainly that if I didn’t pay him Sh 500,000, he would continue pushing the story online and drag the Cooperative bank’s name through the mud,” Hunja stated in his statement to police.

The case was first reported under OB 49/27/07/2025 at Central Police Station, Nairobi. 

According to the police report forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the accused was arrested without a warrant on July 30, 2025.

“He was released on police cash bail, Ksh 20,000, to allow further investigation and compilation of the case file,” the court heads.

After denying the charge, Kihanya, through his lawyers Joshua Nyamori and Black Omanga, pleaded to be released on reasonable bail terms, saying he is sickly and a man of the street who can not raise a hefty bond.

“Kihanya, who is a member of Bunge la Wanaichi can not run away. He is well-known and has a great following in TikToker with 130,000 followers,” lawyer Nyamori. 

“He has no stable income and survives of good will people. He is not in a position to raise hefty bail terms.”

His lawyer informed the court that his client was arrested following his coverage of a woman who had been oppressed and posted the video on his TikTok account. 

He accuses the cooperative bank officials of hiding his woes.

“Considering his non-violent nature of the accused person and the charges we urge the court to release Kihanya on personal bond or alternative on a modest cash bail with usual reporting conditions,” Nyamori pleaded.

Lawyer Omwanga quotes holy scriptures from the bible when pressing for the release of the bond, asking the court to exercise justice.

The Prosecution, however, did not oppose Kihanya’s release on bail but opposed the request to have him granted a personal bond.

The state prosecutor urged the court to call for a pre-bail report on the accused so that his family members and relatives can confirm that they will ensure he attends and commend his character. 

The prosecutor also urged the court to gag the accused person from posting further videos or commentaries touching on the case and bank pending the hearing and determination of the case.  

While seeking the restraining orders, the Prosecution informed the court that the accused has a large social media following, and investigators in the case confirmed that he is still reporting the alleged defamatory content against the bank. 

The prosecutor said that on July 30, 2025, minutes after he was freed on a police bond  , the accused posted various videos and pictures on his social media platforms.

The court heard that these actions led to the video and photos being reposted by his followers, including a local TV station. 

“If the court does not issue orders restraining the accused actions will compromise and prejudice a fair trial and cause with witnesses intimidation,” the prosecutor stated. 

“The court should issue order restraining the accused person from continue posting any defamatory material on Co-perative Bank of Kenya and it’s staff direct or indirectly on his social media  platforms during the penduncy of this proceedings.”

The DPP sentiment was echoed by the bank’s lawyer, Diana Ovula, who said the social media postings have hurt the bank’s and its staff’s reputation.

“It is proper for this court to restrain the accused from publishing any defamatory statements touching on the bank, its staff and senior officials as it hurts it’s business,” said the lawyer.

In her brief ruling, the magistrate released the accused on bond of Ksh 100,000, with alternative cash bail of Ksh 50.

She also gagged the accused person from publishing any information about Cooperative Bank and its officials on any media platform, radio, or Television until the case is heard and determined.

Further, the magistrate issued a summons to the officer investigating the matter to respond to the allegations of the accused’s phone, which he claims was taken from him by police officers, in front of the OCPD.

The matter will be mentioned on August 13, 2025.