Popular TikToker Joseph Gitonga Kihanya, alias Gitonga Archives, has been arrested in Nakuru and brought before a Nairobi court following the issuance of a warrant of arrest over his failure to attend court proceedings in a KSh500,000 extortion case.

Gitonga was transferred to Nairobi on the morning of Friday, October 9, and presented before the City Court, where his lawyer, Joshua Nyamori, applied for the reinstatement of his bail.

Nyamori told the court that his client had missed previous court sessions due to ill health. He urged the court to release Gitonga on bail pending the hearing and determination of the case.

However, no medical documents were reportedly presented to support the explanation for his absence.

The court subsequently cancelled Gitonga’s bond and ordered that he remain in custody until October 26, when his application for fresh bail is scheduled to be heard.

The arrest followed a warrant issued on August 22 by Magistrate Grace Ouko after Gitonga failed to appear in court for the hearing of the case.

Gitonga is charged with demanding property with menaces, contrary to Section 302 of the Penal Code.

According to the prosecution, Gitonga allegedly acted jointly with another person who has not been brought before the court to demand KSh500,000 from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a media service provider.

The alleged offence is said to have occurred between July 20 and July 27, 2025, within Nairobi County.

Prosecutors claim the demand was linked to a video published on Gitonga’s TikTok account in which he alleged that KSh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.

The prosecution alleges that Gitonga demanded the money in exchange for removing the video and refraining from publishing further content concerning the financial institution.

Hunja reportedly told detectives that Gitonga threatened to continue releasing material that could damage the bank’s reputation if the money was not paid.

Gitonga has denied the allegations and previously pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He was initially released on a cash bail of KSh50,000 or an alternative bond of KSh100,000 as he awaited trial.

The case has also drawn the court’s attention over allegations that Gitonga discussed the proceedings on social media.

During earlier proceedings, State Counsel Rama Mwanaidi urged the court to restrain Gitonga from commenting publicly on the matter, arguing that such posts could interfere with the judicial process.

The court subsequently issued a gag order barring Gitonga from discussing, publishing or causing to be published information relating to the case on social media or any other platform.

Gitonga will remain in custody pending the hearing of his application for fresh bail on October 26.