Charlene Ruto backs police over author’s arrest for unauthorized biography
Charlene Ruto, daughter of President William Ruto, has defended the arrest of author Webster Ochora Elijah, who was taken into custody on Monday, June 2, 2025, for publishing an unauthorized biography about her.
Speaking on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, during a youth event at Wareng High School in Eldoret, Charlene said Ochora did not seek her permission before writing or releasing the book, titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising.
She described the act as a misuse of her identity and an infringement on her rights.
Consent was ignored
“The gentleman never came to me with a suggestion that he wanted to write a book on my behalf,” she said.
“To me, that was a misuse of my name, and I had no choice but to report the matter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).”
Charlene said she had submitted a statement to the DCI and followed all legal procedures.
She maintained that it was wrong for anyone to exploit another person’s name or image without consent, regardless of the intentions.
“We have a culture in this country where we misuse people’s names and get away with it. That’s not right, and that’s not what I stand for,” she said.
Respect and integrity
Charlene emphasized that the issue was not about the book’s content, whether positive or not, but about respect for personal boundaries and legal processes.
“It’s not about what the book says. It’s about respecting each other in society,” she noted. “No one should write your story for you. When I’m ready to write my book, I will.”
She urged young people to pursue opportunities in the right way, guided by integrity and respect for others’ rights.
Investigations underway
Detectives said Ochora was arrested for allegedly violating the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
He is being held at Muthaiga Police Station pending charges of identity theft. Police have also launched investigations into other individuals who may have funded or facilitated the publication.
Despite the backlash, Ochora’s lawyer, Kennedy Mong’are, defended his client, saying the book aimed to highlight Charlene’s positive work and public influence.
Mong’are described the arrest as unnecessary, noting that Ochora had written about public figures before, including Raila Odinga and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Charlene, however, stood firm on her position, reiterating that identity and image rights must be respected.
