Tanzanian singer Matonya denies rape charge in Mombasa

TZ Musician Sefu Shabani alias Matonya/DPP COURTESY

A Tanzanian musician has been charged before a Mombasa court with one count of rape.

According to a statement by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the accused, musician Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, popularly known as Matonya, was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Robinson Ondiek at the Shanzu Law Court, where he denied the charge.

The prosecution informed the court that the 43-year-old musician is facing charges brought under Section 3(1) as read with Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006.

The alleged offence is said to have occurred on April 7, 2026, at an apartment in Nyali Sub-County, Mombasa County, where it is alleged that the accused unlawfully committed the offence against an adult woman.

According to the charge sheet, the prosecution has lined up a list of witnesses, including a complainant identified by the initials J.G., a medical doctor, CPL Nuru-LO, and Elizabeth Kilata, among others, to be disclosed.

"Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele urged the court to impose strict bond terms, noting that the accused is a foreign national without a fixed residence in Kenya," the statement by DPP reads.

The prosecution told the court that the circumstances raised concerns over possible absconding and therefore required stringent conditions to secure his attendance throughout the trial.

Counsel Ombele further urged the court to ensure that any bond terms imposed would guarantee that the accused remains within the court’s jurisdiction until the matter is concluded.

"The stringent terms, Ombele said, were necessary to ensure he remains within the court’s jurisdiction throughout the trial," the statement said.

The court considered the prosecution’s application and granted the accused a bond of Sh500,000 with one Kenyan surety.

He was further ordered to deposit his Tanzanian passport and was prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction without prior approval from the court.

Additionally, immigration authorities were directed to place an alert at border points, the statement added.

The case will be mentioned on a later date for pre-trial directions, with the prosecution expected to present its evidence during trial proceedings.

The musician remains out on bond pending further court directions.