President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has withdrawn a criminal case she had filed against 25-year-old author Webster Ochora Elijah, after the two parties reached an out-of-court settlement anchored on a formal apology and strict publishing restrictions.
A consent agreement filed before Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondieki indicates that Ochora tendered an unconditional apology to Charlene, which she accepted, clearing the way for the termination of the case.
“The accused shall not publish, distribute, disseminate, or cause to be published in any form or medium the book or any material referring to the events that formed the subject matter of this case,” reads part of the consent adopted in court.
Under the deal, Ochora has been barred from publishing, distributing or assigning rights to his controversial book, Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising, or any related material referring to Charlene without her express permission.
The agreement further warns that should Ochora breach the terms, Charlene will be at liberty to pursue civil remedies, with the withdrawal of the criminal charges offering him no shield.
Magistrate Ondieki formally allowed the withdrawal after confirming that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) did not object.
“With the apology accepted and the settlement in place, the case, registered as MCCR No. 314 of 2025, is here marked as withdrawn,” ruled the magistrate.
The court nonetheless scheduled a mention on October 6, 2025, to monitor compliance with the settlement terms.
Ochora, a little-known writer, had been facing charges of impersonation under Section 382(1) of the Penal Code. Prosecutors alleged that he falsely presented himself as Charlene and, using the name Zawadi Publishers, authored and circulated the book without her consent.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged impersonation took place between an unknown date and May 22, 2025.
The book, which was self-published and circulated in limited numbers, had not been widely distributed. Sources indicated that Charlene’s complaint was not about its content but rather about the fact that it was written and marketed without her knowledge or approval.
Missed Hearing
The withdrawal also follows Charlene’s failure to appear in court on July 22, 2025, when she had been expected to testify as the key complainant. At the time, the DPP informed the court that she was willing to forgive the young author if he agreed to issue an apology and abide by restrictions.
Ochora’s lawyer, Evan Ondieki, did not oppose the settlement, paving the way for the court to close the matter.
