TikTok content creator and street activist Joseph Gitonga Kihanya alias Gitonga Archives, has been released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 over allegations of attempting to extort Sh500,000 from Co-operative Bank.
Appearing before City Court Magistrate Grace Ouko on Friday, Kihanya denied the charge of Demanding Property with Menaces, contrary to Section 302 of the Penal Code, as filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
According to the prosecution, between July 20 and July 27, 2025, Kihanya, jointly with another not before the court, allegedly demanded Sh500,000 from one Amos Hunja Mwangi, an employee of Co-operative Bank, with threats to defame the bank on social media platforms.
The court heard that Kihanya had posted content on his TikTok account claiming that Sh1.6 billion had been stolen from client accounts at Co-operative Bank.
He allegedly contacted Hunja and demanded payment in exchange for pulling down the posts and halting further defamatory content.
“Mr. Kihanya told me plainly that if I didn’t pay him Sh500,000, he would continue pushing the story online and drag Co-operative Bank’s name through the mud,” said Hunja in his statement to the police.
The case was first reported under OB number 49/27/07/2025 at Central Police Station, Nairobi. Kihanya was arrested without a warrant on July 30, 2025, and released on a police cash bail of Sh20,000 pending further investigations.
Through his lawyers Joshua Nyamori and Black Omanga, Kihanya pleaded for reasonable bail terms, citing ill health and lack of a stable income.
“Kihanya, who is a member of Bunge la Wananchi, cannot abscond. He is well known and has a large following on TikTok, over 130,000 followers,” argued Nyamori.
“He survives on goodwill from the public and cannot raise a hefty bond.”
Quoting Bible scriptures, lawyer Omanga urged the court to exercise mercy and grant bail, either on a personal bond or a modest cash bail with standard reporting conditions.
While the prosecution did not oppose Kihanya’s release on bail, it strongly objected to the defense’s request for a personal bond.
The state prosecutor requested that a pre-bail report be compiled to verify that Kihanya’s family and community would ensure his appearance in court and assess his character.
Furthermore, the prosecution asked the court to issue a gag order prohibiting the accused from publishing any defamatory or prejudicial content regarding the case or the bank on any social media platforms.
The prosecutor noted that Kihanya resumed posting defamatory content immediately after his release on police bond on July 30, 2025.
The posts were widely shared by his followers and even picked up by a local TV station.
“If the court does not restrain the accused, his actions will compromise the fairness of the trial and may result in witness intimidation,” the prosecutor warned.
“We urge the court to bar him from posting any material, directly or indirectly, about Co-operative Bank and its staff during the pendency of these proceedings.”
Diana Ovula, legal counsel for Co-operative Bank, echoed the DPP’s sentiments, stating that the accused’s social media posts had seriously harmed the reputation of the bank and its employees.
“It is proper for this court to restrain the accused from publishing any defamatory statements touching on the bank, its staff, and senior officials as it continues to hurt the bank’s business,” Ovula said.
In her ruling, Magistrate Grace Ouko released Kihanya on a cash bail of Sh50,000 and issued a gag order barring him from publishing any content, written, visual, or audio, that relates to Co-operative Bank or its employees during the trial period.
The case will be mentioned on August 13,2025, for pre-trial
