Charlene Ruto has requested the court to allow the withdrawal of a case against Webster Ochora without requiring her personal attendance.
Through her lawyer, Kevin Kachapin, Ms. Ruto informed the court that he had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)seeking to excuse his client from physically appearing in court due to intense media attention and public scrutiny surrounding the matter.
The prosecution, however, told the court that the DPP’s instructions were to have the case withdrawn under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which requires the complainant to appear in person before the court to formally withdraw the matter.
In response, Magistrate Robinson Ondieki noted that the DPP has mechanisms that allow for the withdrawal of a case without the complainant’s attendance.
“The DPP has a tool to withdraw this matter without the attendance of the complainant. We cannot force the complainant to come to court,” said the magistrate.
In a letter addressed to the DPP, Ms. Ruto through her lawyer Kevin Kachapin formally requested an exemption from personal attendance in court. The letter stated:
“We act for Ms. Charlene Ruto,Given that the matter has been fully settled and the upcoming mention is solely for the purpose of presenting and adopting the consent, our client’s personal attendance is not necessary. “ read the letter in part
It continues to say that Charlene’s lawyer will attend court to present and confirm the consent on her behalf.
In the letter Charlene claims that the case has attracted considerable media attention and public scrutiny and that her absence will help avoid unnecessary public spectacle while ensuring that the proceedings remain focused on their legal purpose.
In the case, Webster Ochora had been charged with impersonation under Section 382(1) of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, he allegedly posed as President Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, and, using the name Zawadi Publishers, authored and circulated a book titled “Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising” between an unknown date and May 22, 2025
The matter will be mentioned on November 11th to confirm DPP directions on the matter.
