Activist and Form One student Nuru Maloba Okanga has been charged in a Nairobi court with publishing false information and providing telecommunications services without a valid license.

Okanga (pictured), a student in Mwangaza Secondary School in Kayole, Nairobi denied three counts levelled against him before Milimani Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochoi.

The court heard that on diverse dates between June 7 and 10, 2024 jointly with others not before the court, at an unknown place within the republic of Kenya knowingly and unlawfully published false, defamatory and threatening information online while using a TikTok account Riba News @ribanews and siasa.tv.ke.backup.

Family man

The prosecution said that the information was calculated to cause fear and panic among Kenyans and destroy the reputation of the executive leadership of the Republic of Kenya.

The information published, the prosecution said, contravened provisions of the license issued to Riba News.

Defence lawyer Shadrack Wambui urged the court to release the student on reasonable bond terms saying he has no income and relies on support from sponsors who pay his school fees.

Wambui added that although the accused is a student, he is a family man and his wife and child are currently admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital.

The magistrate ordered the accused to deposit a cash bail of Sh100,000 with one contact person or an alternative bond of Sh200,000.