President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has publicly forgiven author Webster Elijah Ochora, the man behind an unauthorized book written about her. The decision brings to an end a legal battle that had seen Ochora arrested and charged for identity theft under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act.
In a heartfelt statement released on Monday, July 28, Charlene announced that she was dropping the case and opting for an out-of-court settlement.
She said her decision was influenced by Ochora’s repeated appeals for forgiveness through her lawyers at Kachapin & Company Advocates. According to her, his persistent messages and sincerity touched her deeply.
“Over the past few weeks, I have received consistent pleas through my legal team from Mr. Webster Ochora Elijah. His words and the sincerity behind them have moved me,” Charlene stated.
She went on to say that as a passionate youth advocate who believes in constructive dialogue and ethical leadership, she chose to forgive him and resolve the matter amicably, outside the court system.
Ochora had been arrested on Monday, June 2, after publishing a book titled Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising without her approval. The publication landed him in hot water, and he was detained at Muthaiga Police Station before facing formal charges.
Charlene explained that she initially pursued legal action not just to defend her own name but to speak up on behalf of many others — particularly young people — who suffer silently from online exploitation, bullying, and character assassination.
“There are countless individuals whose mental well-being has been shattered, careers destroyed, and dignity stripped due to targeted digital abuse. My action was a stand for them,” she said.
Interestingly, during the height of the legal saga, Ochora, through his lawyer Kennedy Mong’are, maintained that the book was never meant to cause harm. Instead, it was meant to celebrate Charlene’s work and accomplishments.
Mong’are further described his client as a respected author and publisher who had previously written about public figures like former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Veteran lawyer Evans Ondieki also came to Ochora’s defense, labeling the arrest as illegal and politically charged. He argued that the case was more about silencing the writer’s freedom of expression than protecting anyone’s reputation.
Charlene’s move to forgive Ochora has since been hailed by many as an act of maturity and leadership, setting an example for peaceful conflict resolution and compassion in the digital age.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
