Harrison Nyende Mumia, 47, who has been in custody for 20 days at Industrial Area Remand Prison made the new demands yesterday when he appeared before Milimani Magistrate Rose Ndombi.

Through his legal team led by lawyer Lempaa Soyianka, Mumia argues that since President Ruto is the main complainant in the matter, the court should compel him to provide a witness statement and testify in the case.

Soyianka further told the court that the defence cannot proceed with the hearing until the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions supplies President Ruto’s witness statement, urging the court to delay fixing a hearing date until the document is availed.

“We cannot meaningfully proceed with this matter without the complainant’s statement, and since the President is the main complainant, we urge the court to compel him to record and supply his witness statement before any hearing date is fixed. He should also be compelled to be called as witness in case,” Soyianka told the court.

The defense team also urged the court for a reduction of bail from Sh 500,000 imposed on Mumia to SH 50,000 claiming the accused is unable to raise the current bail terms.

Mumia’s lawyer Abner Mango told the court that his client has been languishing in custody since his initial appearance before Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego on January 5, 2026, when he was granted SH 500,000 cash bail or a Sh 1 million bond with surrender of his passport.

“Your honor, the accused appeared before Alego on January 5. Your honour he was released on punitive bail terms of Sh 500,000 cash bail and a bond of a Sh 1 Million with a surrender of his passport. He has not been able to raise the same and he remains incarcerated at Industrial area,” Mango submitted.

The defense is now seeking a drastic reduction of the bail terms from to Sh 50,000 an amount they say the family can afford.

Making his case for bail reduction, Mango argued that Mumia poses no flight risk, pointing out that police knew exactly where to find him when they conducted a raid at his Kangundo Road residence.

“Your honor the accused is not a flight risk he was arrested when the DCI raided his home in Kangundo road so the residence is well known by the IO. He is a respected person in this country and has no where to go. He will be attending this court when required,” Mango told the court.

The defense lawyer further challenged the very foundation of the charges, revealing that the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act is currently under challenge at the Court of Appeal.

“Your honour the offences the accused is charged with computer misuse… the act is under challenge at the court of appeal. Your honour let it not escape the court that the charges against him are political,” Mango argued.

He pleaded with the court not to punish Mumia before he has been found guilty.

“Your honour is in that basis that we pray the accused is granted affordable bail terms so that he is not punished before a court of law finds him guilty. Your honour while incarcerated has been put in risk,” Mango submitted.

The prosecution, however, rejected the defense’s arguments, insisting that bail had already been granted and the accused’s inability to meet the terms was not the state’s responsibility.

“Your honour let it be known that bail was not denied it was granted. Failure for one to raise the bail can not be pinned against the prosecution,” the prosecution stated.

The state further pointed to inconsistencies in the defense’s position, citing an affidavit that indicated the real problem was the inability to locate Mumia’s ID and passport, not lack of funds.

“Your honour have been served with affidavit where indicate that sole issue that is hindering them is that they could not find the accused persons ID and passports. Your honour the said affidavit informs states that the visited the accused person in preparation to raise bail. They didn’t state they are unable to raise the amount but they say they couldn’t get his ID and passport,” the prosecution argued.

Magistrate Ndombi ordered that a pre-bail report be filed before making any orders on the reduction of bail. The court has detained Mumia until Thursday, when it will deliver its ruling on whether to reduce the Sh1 million bail terms.

In the case, Mumia faces four counts under Section 22(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018, all related to posts allegedly made on December 30, 2025.

According to the charge sheet, Mumia is alleged to have used a pseudo Facebook account under the name Robinson Kipruto Ngetich to publish images of President Ruto lying on a bed and falsely portraying him as deceased.

Another image allegedly depicted the President on a hospital bed in critical medical condition.

“On December 30, 2025 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya knowingly published false information… by posting an image of President William Ruto lying on a bed and falsely portraying him as deceased, information you knew to be false,” the charge sheet reads in part.

He is also accused of publishing similar false images on his Instagram account, @harrisonmumia, showing the President lying on a bed in critical medical condition, falsely suggesting severe illness or death.

Making his case for bail reduction, Mango argued that Mumia poses no flight risk, pointing out that police knew exactly where to find him when they conducted a raid at his Kangundo Road residence.

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Muteti, 30, appeared before Milimani Law Courts, facing one charge under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2018.

Prosecution alleges that on December 6, 2025, Muteti used his X account @mulinge_muteti to post statements he knew were false, which were likely to cause fear, alarm, or violence among the public.

According to the prosecution, Muteti’s posts claimed that politicians had not worked, innovated, or invented anything, and that all their wealth was allegedly stolen from Kenyans, and should be returned.

They argued that such statements were intended to incite public unrest.

Muteti pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lawyer urged the court to grant lenient bail

“Muteti is not a flight risk and will appear for all future court proceedings. He is a law-abiding citizen and a human rights activist whose work should not be curtailed unnecessarily,” he said

The defence also requested access to all evidence and witness statements the prosecution intends to rely on.

Magistrate granted Muteti Sh 15,000 cash bail with the condition that he provide a contact person.

The court also instructed the prosecution to supply all materials and witness statements ahead of the trial.

Muteti was arrested on December 12, 2025, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit and spent the weekend at Muthaiga Police Station after police declined to release him on bail prior to his court appearance.

The case has been scheduled for mention on December 30, 2025, for pre-trial proceedings.

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