Case against varsity student accused of publishing fake Ruto funeral set for full hearing
The defence did not object the application by the prosecution for the fixing of hearing date agreeing to proceed with the matter
A university student who was charged with publishing false information about President William Ruto will face a full trial after the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to issue instructions on the withdrawal of the matter.
David Oaga Mokaya, who is a fourth year Finance and Economic student at Moi University at Eldoret, had sought a review of the charges against him and inquired whether President William Ruto would be called to testify.
However, during today’s mention, State prosecutor Sonia Njoki informed the court that no instructions had been given by the DPP Renson Ingonga and requested the court to set hearing dates,
“Your honour, I pray to this court to set the hearing date on the matter since we do not have instructions on the withdrawal of the matter,” said Njoki.
Mokaya is charged with publishing false information and sharing an image of a funeral procession with misleading captions.
The defence did not object the application by the prosecution for fixing of the hearing date agreeing to proceed with the matter.
The matter is now scheduled for a full hearing on May 29 .
Through his lawyer Danstan Omari, Momanyi had sought to know whether President Ruto will be called to the witness box.
“The student is charged with publishing a casket on Twitter. I have written to the DPP to review the charges on the citizen’s right to criticise their leader, especially their president,” Omari had told the court.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) also told the court that they wanted to know whether the president will be called as a witness and challenged the jurisdiction of the case.
According to the prosecution, Mokaya allegedly posted the image on his X account, Landlord @bozgabi, on November 13, 2024, claiming it was of President Ruto’s body leaving a funeral home.
Mokaya is charged with computer misuse and publishing false information about a purported funeral procession led by military personnel in ceremonial uniform, with a casket draped in the Kenyan flag, supposedly containing the President’s remains leaving Lee Funeral Home.
The image, which went viral on social media, was later found to be misleading.
