Tanzanian Bongo Flava star Matonya has been officially cleared of rape charges by a court in Mombasa, bringing to an end a legal battle that had kept the singer behind bars for weeks and sparked widespread attention across East Africa.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa, where the court acquitted the singer, whose real name is Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, months after he was arrested and charged over allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in Nyali earlier this year.
Shortly after the ruling, Matonya broke his silence and insisted he had been falsely accused from the very beginning.
“I was set up,” the singer told reporters moments after walking free, maintaining the position he had held throughout the case.
Despite the months-long court battle, Matonya struck a surprisingly forgiving tone while addressing the public, saying he holds no bitterness toward the people behind the accusations.
“But I forgive them. I would not want to ruin my beautiful relationship with the Kenyan public because of a few individuals,” he said.
The acquittal closes a case that first emerged in April 2026 when authorities arrested the popular Tanzanian musician following allegations that he had sexually assaulted and physically assaulted a woman during an incident at an apartment in Nyali, one of Mombasa’s popular beachside neighborhoods.
According to court documents filed at the time, prosecutors alleged that the incident took place on April 7, 2026.
Following his arrest, Matonya appeared before Chief Magistrate Robinson Ondiek at the Shanzu Law Courts where prosecutors formally charged him with one count of rape.
The singer denied the allegations and entered a not guilty plea. Authorities initially held him at Shimo La Tewa Prison, where he spent approximately 20 days in custody as legal proceedings began.
On April 28, the court granted him release on a Sh 500,000 bond but imposed strict conditions, including surrendering his Tanzanian passport and barring him from leaving Kenya until the case concluded.
Speaking after the acquittal, Matonya expressed relief that the court process had finally ended and confirmed that he now plans to resume normal activities, including returning to Tanzania,