Political activist and commentator Nuru Okanga on Tuesday appeared a relieved man after a court in Nairobi acquitted him of cybercrime charges leveled against him by the state. The court ruled that the state failed to prove Okanga is responsible for the online content.
In a ruling dated January 20, 2026, Rose Ndombi, a trial magistrate at the Milimani Law Courts, stated that there was no prima facie case established by the prosecution under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, thus ending the case before it even went to trial.
Okanga had also been accused of posting false, defamatory, and threatening information on his social media platforms as a result of a video clip that appeared in November 2025. The video clip was said to feature threatening words against President William Ruto.
However, in her decision, Magistrate Ndombi observed that the police had not proved Okanga to be the one who had uploaded the video.
“There was not a single credible piece of digital evidence that could connect the suspect to carrying out the said publication,” she said.
The magistrate expressed concern over the manner in which investigations had been carried out, citing that no electronic devices had been taken from Okanga and that there was no forensic evidence to link the video to Okanga. Testimony presented by police officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations indicated that no warrants or preservation of data had been sought.
“The case was based on suspicion,” observed the court, “and suspicion alone, no matter how grave, is insufficient to support a criminal charge.'”
Okanga was represented by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, who was pleased with the ruling, calling it a victory for both due process and the constitution.
“This ruling confirms that everyone must follow the law, most especially in issues regarding freedom of expression,” Owino reacted to the ruling.
Outside the court, Okanga who looked relieved thanked his lawyer and his fans. He said that the case had affected him personally and financially. He added that Owino had even helped him to get transport to court in order to attend court hearings in Nairobi.
The verdict has already sparked renewed debate on the enforcement of cybercrime legislation in Kenya, specifically about how investigations are carried out and the balancing act between maintaining public order and freedom of speech on the internet.