Student Freed as Court Dismisses ‘Ruto’s Funeral Procession’ Cyber Case

A Nairobi court has freed a university student accused of spreading false information online. The case had drawn public attention. It touched on politics. It touched on digital speech. It also tested how cybercrime laws are enforced.

The student, David Mokaya, had been charged over a social media post. The post allegedly showed a funeral procession. Prosecutors claimed it referenced President William Ruto. They argued the content was misleading. They said it violated the law on false publication.But the case began to weaken in court.

Magistrate Caroline Nyaguthi examined how the evidence was collected. She found serious gaps. Investigators had seized the student’s electronic devices. They claimed they had court orders to search them. However, those orders were never presented before the trial court. That omission raised red flags.

Digital evidence is sensitive. It must be handled carefully. It must follow strict legal steps. The court ruled that the examination of the gadgets was done without proper authority. That made the extracted data unreliable.

Six witnesses testified. They tried to link Mokaya to the social media account in question. The prosecution said the account carried a specific handle. They insisted it belonged to him. But ownership was not conclusively proven. No clear digital trail was produced in court.

The magistrate reminded the prosecution of its duty. It must prove who authored or published the content. Assumptions are not enough. Suspicion is not proof. In cyber cases, attribution is everything.

With weak linkage and flawed procedure, the case collapsed.The court dismissed the charges. Mokaya was set free.

The ruling now shifts focus to investigative standards. As online expression cases grow, courts are demanding stronger proof. This decision signals that shortcuts will not stand. It also highlights the tension between regulating online speech and protecting individual rights.

For the student, it was a moment of relief. For prosecutors, it was a lesson. In the digital age, evidence must be clean. Procedure must be followed. Justice depends on both.