Nuru Okanga: DCI arrested me while I was naked
Following his arrest and presentation at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi to face charges of “falsely discrediting the reputation of a state officer and with the intent to cause a breach of peace”, opposition allied renowned blogger and activist Nuru Okanga narrated his ordeal in the hands of the police who came for him at his home.
“I was arrested around 11am and taken to the DCI offices and I slept there. I woke up and was brought to court where I met my lawyer. I want to ask the DCI, especially those who arrested me. You really did me wrong. The law of Kenya says that if someone has broken the law, then you can arrest them. You cannot remove me from the bathroom and my children, my wife and my sister see my nakedness.
I am telling the DCI who came to arrest me- yes, you were carrying out your duties but you really wronged me. According to the Luhya traditions, a child is not supposed to see their father’s nakedness. It is now like I have cursed my children while I am still alive. You may have thought it a good move, what you did when you arrested me, but to me it was very bad. I won’t say much because if I do, I may end up being arrested again. I am very angry right now. I don’t want to say things out of anger. The case is now in court, let us meet on December 13, 2023,” said Mr Okanga yesterday.
Mr Okanga is a married father of three children.
According to prior Nairobi News reports, the prosecution said Mr Okanga had published misleading content on his YouTube channel, Riba News, when he criticized President William Ruto over fuel unavailability in the country. He was also charged with using unprintable words to insult President Ruto on November 20, 2023, when he published a video titled ‘Nuru Okanga on Fire.’
Mr Okanga, however, denied the charges against him and was subsequently granted release on a cash bail of Sh10,000. The court scheduled a pre-trial hearing for December 13, 2023, to discuss further proceedings in the case.