The case against a man accused of impersonating President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, was stalled on Wednesday after the complainant failed to appear in court for the second time.

Nairobi city lawyer Kevin Kachapin appeared before the court representing Charlene. The court was expected to rule on an application by the defense seeking to have the matter dismissed due to Charlene’s absence, which has delayed the progress of the case.

The accused, Webstar Ochora Elijah, is facing charges under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act. He is alleged to have falsely presented himself as Charlene Ruto while operating under the name Zawadi Publishers.

According to the charge sheet, Webstar is accused of committing the offence on May 22, 2025, at an undisclosed location in Kenya. He allegedly published a book titled “Beyond the Name: Charlene Ruto and the Youth Uprising”, purporting to be authored by Charlene herself. Investigators say this was done with the intent to defraud.

Webstar was arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and later charged with identity theft. He is currently out on a bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000. His lawyer had earlier convinced the court that he was not a flight risk.

The prosecution had hoped to proceed with the case, but Charlene’s failure to testify has put the matter on hold. Her testimony is considered central to the prosecution’s case.

Meanwhile, Webstar’s defense team has accused the state of using the criminal justice system to stifle dissent and limit freedom of expression. They argue that the book was a work of commentary and political thought, and that the charges are merely a smokescreen to intimidate voices critical of the political elite.

With Charlene still absent from proceedings, the court postponed its ruling on the dismissal application to July 28, 2025. It remains unclear whether she will honor the next hearing.