Titus Sifuna, the 22-year-old man accused of impersonating President William Ruto on social media platform X, has been released on a cash bail of Ksh 100,000, following a spirited intervention by a local human rights defenders group.
Sifuna had been in custody for allegedly running a parody account that closely mirrored the President’s online tone and messaging, raising alarm among authorities. His arrest sparked widespread debate on social media, with some users expressing concern over what they described as a potential crackdown on online freedom of expression.
The court granted Sifuna bail after considering submissions from the human rights group, which argued that his arrest amounted to intimidation and could set a dangerous precedent for digital expression in Kenya.
“This is not just about one individual. It’s about the right of young people to express themselves online without fear,” said a spokesperson from the group, shortly after the court ruling.
The case has drawn national attention, with some netizens rallying behind Sifuna, using hashtags such as #LetTitusTweet and #FreeSpeechKE to express their support.
The State maintains that the impersonation posed a serious risk to public communication and national security, particularly due to the high level of credibility the fake account seemed to carry.
Sifuna is expected back in court next month as the case proceeds.
