MOMBASA, Kenya — Tanzanian musician Matonya has denied a rape charge during a court appearance in Mombasa, Kenya.
The 43-year-old artist, whose real name is Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, appeared before Chief Magistrate Robinson Ondiek at the Shanzu Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge brought under Section 3(1) as read with Section 3(3) of Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the court heard that the alleged offence took place on April 7, 2026, at an apartment in Nyali Sub-County, within Mombasa County. Prosecutors allege that the accused unlawfully committed the act against an adult woman.
Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele urged the court to impose strict bond conditions, arguing that the accused is a foreign national without a fixed residence in Kenya.
She told the court that stringent measures were necessary to ensure he remains within the court’s jurisdiction throughout the trial.
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The court granted the accused a bond of KSh500,000 with one Kenyan surety. He was also ordered to surrender his Tanzanian passport and barred from leaving the country without prior court approval.
“Additionally, immigration authorities were directed to place an alert at border points,” said the ODPP.
The case highlights the Kenyan judiciary’s increasing scrutiny of cross-border criminal cases, particularly involving foreign nationals.
Legal analysts note that courts have in recent years tightened bail and bond conditions in serious offences to minimise flight risk and safeguard the integrity of judicial proceedings.
The matter is expected to proceed to hearing in the coming weeks.
