Popular TikToker Joseph Gitonga Kihanya, known as Gitonga Archives in court./HANDOUTPopular TikToker Joseph Gitonga Kihanya, known as Gitonga Archives, was arrested in Nakuru and taken to a Nairobi court after allegedly failing to attend proceedings in a Sh500,000 extortion case.
Gitonga was brought to the City Court on Friday, October 9, following a warrant issued over his absence from court.
His lawyer, Joshua Nyamori, asked the court to reinstate his bail, saying his client had missed earlier proceedings because of illness. He urged the court to release Gitonga as he awaits the hearing and determination of the case.
However, no medical documents were reportedly presented to support the explanation.
The court cancelled Gitonga’s bond and directed that he remain in custody until October 26, when his application for fresh bail is scheduled for hearing.
The arrest followed a warrant issued on August 22 by Magistrate Grace Ouko after Gitonga failed to appear when the case came up for hearing.
Gitonga faces a charge of demanding property with menaces, contrary to Section 302 of the Penal Code. He has denied the allegations and previously pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution alleges that Gitonga, acting jointly with another person who has not been brought before the court, demanded Sh500,000 from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a media service provider.
The alleged offence took place between July 20 and July 27, 2025, within Nairobi County.
According to the prosecution, the demand was connected to a video posted on Gitonga’s TikTok account alleging that KSh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.
Prosecutors allege that Gitonga sought the money in exchange for taking down the video and refraining from publishing further content about the financial institution.
Hunja reportedly told detectives that Gitonga threatened to release more material that could damage the bank’s reputation if the money was not paid.
Gitonga had initially been released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 or an alternative bond of Sh100,000 as he awaited trial.
The proceedings have also raised concerns over alleged social media commentary about the case.
During an earlier court session, State Counsel Rama Mwanaidi asked the court to bar Gitonga from publicly discussing the matter, arguing that his posts could interfere with the judicial process.
The court subsequently issued an order prohibiting Gitonga from discussing the case or publishing, or causing to be published, information about it on social media or any other platform.
The case is scheduled to return to court on October 26 for the hearing of Gitonga’s application for fresh bail.
