NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 22 – Charlene Ruto has formally dropped the criminal case against author Webster Elijah under strick court-registered terms following a contested book.
This is after a consent was presented before Milimani Magistrate Robinson Ondieki on Monday, filed under Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution, which encourage alternative dispute resolution.
“That the accused offered an apology,which the complainant has accepted, leading to the resolution of the matter,” it read.
Charlene Ruto accused Elijah of “misusing” her name by writing the book without first seeking permission from her.
Elijah was arrested and charged with impersonation over the book titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.
As part of the deal, Elijah is barred from publishing, distributing, or disseminating his book—or any other material—that references, directly or indirectly, the events at the centre of the dispute or identifies 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 read in part.
Elijah is further restricted from transferring rights to the book to third parties for purposes such as publication, production, or adaptation. Any breach of the conditions would allow Ruto to seek civil remedies, with the withdrawal of the case not serving as a defence.
The author has also issued an apology, which Ruto accepted, allowing the matter to be settled amicably.
The case, registered as MCCR No. 314 of 2025, has now been marked as withdrawn.
The court will mention the matter again on October 6, 2025, for further directions.
