NAIROBI, Kenya – A university student, David Oaga Mokaya, will stand trial for publishing false information after allegedly sharing an image of a funeral procession with misleading captions.
The court ruled on Wednesday that the case will proceed to full trial on May 29, 2025, as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has not issued any instructions to withdraw the charges.
Mokaya, who operates the X account “Landlord @bozgabi,” is accused of posting a doctored image on November 13, 2024, falsely claiming it depicted President William Ruto’s body leaving a funeral home.
The image allegedly showed a casket draped in the Kenyan flag, escorted by military officers in ceremonial uniforms, creating the false impression that the President had died.
During Wednesday’s mention of the case, Mokaya, represented by lawyer Danstan Omari, sought a review of the charges, questioning whether President Ruto would testify.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also inquired whether the President would be called as a witness and challenged the jurisdiction of the case.
Prosecutors confirmed that the DPP had not issued instructions to drop the case, leading to the court setting a full hearing date for May 29, 2025.
Omari argued that the case touches on freedom of expression and the right of citizens to criticize their leaders, including the President.
However, the prosecution maintains that the post was misleading and violated the law.
Mokaya’s case comes amid growing concerns over digital freedoms in Kenya, with rights groups raising alarm over increased crackdowns on online speech.
