The High Court has handed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) a major setback after ordering the release of Halima Ngache, the woman arrested over an X account alleged to have been tracking President William Ruto’s flight movements.
Justice Alexander Muteti declined the DCI’s request to continue holding Ngache as detectives carried out forensic examinations on electronic devices seized during her arrest. Instead, the court ruled that investigations can proceed without keeping her in custody.
Ngache was arrested in Mombasa after detectives linked her to a verified X account that had been posting details of President Ruto’s travel itinerary, including information on his flights.
Investigators argued that the posts posed a security risk because they involved the movements of the Head of State.
Following her arrest, detectives confiscated several electronic devices, among them mobile phones, a laptop, a tablet and storage devices, saying they needed more time to analyse the gadgets and establish who was behind the account.
However, Ngache has consistently denied operating the account. Through her lawyers, she argued that despite the seizure of her devices, the X account remained active, raising questions about the investigators’ claims that she was responsible for the posts.
The court’s decision now means Ngache will remain free as investigations continue, with the DCI expected to present the outcome of its forensic analysis before making a decision on whether to file charges.
The case has generated significant public interest, coming at a time when concerns over digital rights, privacy and freedom of expression continue to dominate public debate. At the same time, it underscores the difficult balance authorities face between protecting national security and respecting constitutional rights in an increasingly digital age.
With the court declining to extend her detention, attention now shifts to the evidence investigators will gather from the seized devices and whether it will be sufficient to sustain any criminal charges against her.