NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s High Court has ordered the unconditional release of a woman who was arrested for allegedly sharing details of President William Ruto’s air travel on social media.
Halima Ngache was arrested at her home in Mombasa and transported to Nairobi, where investigators sought permission to detain her for seven days while conducting further inquiries into alleged cyber-related offences.
The court instead directed that she be released immediately and ordered her to appear before the judge on July 6, 2026, for further directions.
Ngache moved to the High Court after arguing that her arrest was unlawful.
According to court filings, she claimed that police officers failed to provide reasons for her arrest and did not present a warrant at the time she was taken into custody.
The High Court subsequently ordered her release pending further proceedings.
The ruling came after a lower court had granted investigators three days to continue their inquiries, rejecting an earlier request by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain her for seven days.
The DCI told the court that investigations into the matter remain ongoing.
Detectives said that once inquiries are completed, the case file will be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and guidance on whether criminal charges should be filed.
Investigators are examining potential offences under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, including cyber harassment and computer misuse.
According to investigators, the case stems from posts published on X, formerly Twitter, that allegedly disclosed details of President Ruto’s travel itinerary during an official visit to Europe.
Court documents indicate that one post allegedly stated that the President had departed Belgium for Norway aboard a chartered aircraft, while another reportedly identified the aircraft by its registration number.
In an affidavit filed before the court, Corporal Edwin Metto of the DCI’s Serious Crimes Unit argued that the publications raised concerns about the security of the Head of State.
“The motive behind the publications is still under investigation,” the affidavit states.
The DCI told the court that several electronic devices were recovered during Ngache’s arrest in Mombasa.
According to investigators, the items include:
- Two mobile phones
- A Tecno tablet
- A Dell laptop
- Three flash drives
Detectives said the devices would undergo forensic examination to determine whether they were linked to the disputed social media posts.
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Investigators also argued that the X account under scrutiny remained active while Ngache was being transported from Mombasa to Nairobi, raising the possibility that other individuals may have had access to it.
“The recovered electronic devices may contain further information relating to the alleged offences and assist investigators in identifying other persons who may have participated in the commission of the offences,” the affidavit states.
The DCI had sought additional time to complete forensic examinations and gather information from other agencies before forwarding the file to prosecutors.
However, the court declined to grant the requested seven-day detention period, ruling that a shorter timeframe would be sufficient for investigators to continue their work.
Ngache is expected to return to court on July 6, when the matter will come up for further directions.
