NAIROBI, Kenya – The High Court in Nairobi has ordered the release of a woman arrested over allegations that she operated a social media account that tracked and published President William Ruto’s flight movements.
Justice Alexander Muteti on Friday directed that the suspect, Halima Ngache — also known online as Princess Halima — be freed from police custody by the close of business, pending further directions from the court.
The matter will be mentioned on Monday next week, when the court is expected to issue a ruling on the case.
Ngache was arrested on June 30 by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit in an intelligence-led operation in the Kazandani area of Bamburi, Mombasa County.
According to investigators, preliminary findings linked her to an X (formerly Twitter) account alleged to have published sensitive information concerning the movements of protected persons, including the Head of State.
She was subsequently arraigned before the Milimani Law Courts, where police obtained a three-day custodial order to complete investigations.
Court documents indicate that the account published posts claiming President Ruto travelled from Belgium to Norway aboard a chartered private jet on June 8, from Norway to Finland on June 10, and that on June 25 he had allegedly left Kenya and was expected to board a private jet in Madagascar.
In an affidavit filed in court, investigators said the motive behind the alleged tracking of the President’s movements remains unclear, warning that the publication of such information had caused apprehension both for the safety of the Head of State and among members of the public.
The case has drawn attention to the growing scrutiny of online activity involving national security and the limits of digital expression on social media platforms.
