Author charged for biography of Ruto's daughter

Kenyan free-speech advocates and lawyers have condemned the prosecution of the author of an unauthorised biography of President William Ruto's daughter, reports BBC News. Charlene Ruto accused Webster Elijah of ‘misusing’ her name by writing the book without first seeking permission from her. On Tuesday, the author was arrested and charged with impersonation. He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. The charge alleges that the accused published the book on or before 22 May, alongside others who are yet to be charged, with intention to defraud. The President's daughter has not complained about the contents of the book, just that it was written without her permission. But critics say this is not illegal. Politician and lawyer Willis Otieno said to ‘criminalise authorship’ was misusing the ‘state machinery in defence of fragile egos’. Literary critic Mbugua Ngunjiri said the author did ‘nothing wrong’, giving an example of an unauthorised biography of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, in 2014, where the ‘author did not need to consult’. Elijah’s legal team has argued that his work did not constitute a crime.

Lawyer Kennedy Mong'are told local media that he had previously written books about public figures, including on veteran politician Raila Odinga and US President Donald Trump. Another lawyer, Evan Ondieki, said that high-ranking government figures should expect public scrutiny and that the arrest undermined Kenya's democratic values. Charlene Ruto is a high-profile figure who has in the past been likened to a version of Ivanka Trump, daughter of the US President. She has often been a guest at public events, and in the past met leaders across the country and attended international forums. In 2022, she denied that public money was being used to fund what she called the ‘Office of the First Daughter’. The court case has amplified concerns about restrictions on free expression, particularly following the recent detention of software developer Rose Njeri, according to BBC News. Njeri was arrested the previous Friday for creating a tool that helped citizens oppose the government's annual Finance Bill. She was charged with cybercrime and computer misuse and freed on bail until 20 June when the court will determine whether she will answer the charge.

Full BBC News report