Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto, has withdrawn a criminal case against an author accused of impersonating her in a disputed book.
The case ended on Monday after Ms. Ruto and Webster Ochora Elijah reached a reconciliation deal filed in court.
According to documents presented before Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondieki, the agreement was made under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution. Both provisions encourage out-of-court settlements where possible.
A letter filed with the court stated: “The accused offered an apology, which the complainant has accepted, leading to the resolution of the matter.”
Strict conditions
The settlement imposes tight restrictions on Mr. Ochora. He is barred from publishing, distributing, or circulating the book at the centre of the dispute—or any other material that refers directly or indirectly to Ms. Ruto.
“The accused shall not publish, distribute, disseminate, or cause to be published in any form or medium the book or any material containing content referring to or purporting to narrate in the first person the events forming the subject matter of this case,” the agreement reads in part.
He is also prohibited from transferring rights to the book to third parties for purposes such as production or adaptation. Should he breach the deal, Ms. Ruto retains the right to pursue civil action, with the court noting that the withdrawal does not absolve him from future liability.
Case closed — for now
Mr. Ochora issued a formal apology, which Ms. Ruto accepted. The matter, registered as MCCR No. 314 of 2025, has now been marked as withdrawn.
The court will mention the case again on 6 October for further directions, though Monday’s withdrawal effectively brought the criminal proceedings to a close.
The settlement highlights the growing use of alternative dispute resolution in Kenyan courts, where judges increasingly encourage reconciliation over drawn-out trials.
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