TikTok content creator Joseph Gitonga, alias Gitonga Archives, was on Friday arraigned over claims of attempting to extort Sh500,000 from a media company contracted by Cooperative Bank of Kenya.
Gitonga appeared before Milimani Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate Sharon Ouko and faced one count of demanding property by menace.
He was charged alongside a second suspect who did not appear in court.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offence occurred between July 20 and July 25 this year within Nairobi County.
Gitonga was released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or an alternative bond of Sh100,000, with strict instructions not to publish or comment—either directly or indirectly—on the ongoing case.
The court heard that Gitonga, in the company of the second suspect who is yet to be arraigned, unlawfully demanded the said amount from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a media service provider working with Co-operative Bank, with the intention of stealing. Gitonga denied the charges and, through lawyers Joshua Nyamori and Black Omanga, urged the court to consider lenient bail terms, highlighting his financial struggles.
“He is a poor man. His wife left him because of his financial difficulties. He has been fully cooperative with investigators and is not a flight risk,” argued Omanga.
But the prosecution, led by State Counsel Rama Mwanaidi from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), raised concerns about Gitonga’s continued social media activity relating to the case.
The court was told that the accused had been sharing posts that referenced the matter, potentially undermining the legal process.
“The accused has been making social media commentary that touches on this ongoing case. We are seeking a gag order to prevent any further publications that could prejudice the proceedings,” Mwanaidi submitted.
Ouko granted the application, issuing a gag order barring Gitonga from commenting on or publishing any material related to the case across all platforms.
“It is the court’s view that justice must not be compromised by public discourse, especially when the matter is before a competent court. Gag orders serve to uphold the integrity of the process and protect the dignity of complainants,” the magistrate ruled.
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