A popular TikToker has been remanded in custody after a Nairobi court cancelled his bond for failing to attend a scheduled hearing in a KSh500,000 extortion case.
The content creator was arrested in Nakuru on Friday, October 9, and transferred to Nairobi before appearing in court on Monday, where his lawyer sought to have his bond reinstated.
His lawyer told the court that the accused had missed the previous proceedings because he was unwell, asking the magistrate to allow him to remain out of custody as the case continued.
However, the court was not presented with medical documents to support the claim of illness, leading to the cancellation of his bond.
The TikToker was subsequently ordered to remain in custody until October 26, when his application for bail is scheduled to be heard.
Court Issues Arrest Warrant After Missed Hearing
The arrest followed a warrant issued on August 22 after the accused failed to appear in court for a scheduled hearing.
His latest appearance saw his legal team seek a review of the decision to cancel his bond, arguing that his absence from the proceedings had been caused by ill health.
The court, however, declined to reinstate his release conditions without supporting medical evidence.
The accused will remain in custody pending the hearing of his application, unless the court issues further directions.
KSh500,000 Extortion Allegations
According to the charge sheet, the case centres on a video the TikToker allegedly published on his social media account claiming that KSh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.
The prosecution alleges that he subsequently demanded KSh500,000 in exchange for removing the video and stopping further publications concerning the bank.
The alleged offence is said to have occurred between July 20 and July 27, 2025.
The allegations are yet to be determined by the court, and the accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Prosecution Raises Concerns Over Social Media Posts
The case has also attracted attention over concerns about the accused’s alleged online commentary on the proceedings.
State Counsel Rama Mwanaidi previously raised concerns that the TikToker had discussed the case on social media and asked the court to restrain him from making public comments about the matter.
The court subsequently issued a gag order barring him from discussing or publishing information relating to the proceedings on social media and other platforms.
The restriction adds another dimension to the case, which involves allegations arising from online content and the prosecution’s claims that money was demanded to prevent further publication.
Separate TikTok Case Draws DCI Attention
The development comes amid other criminal proceedings involving content published on social media platforms.
In a separate case, a 25-year-old man was recently arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts over alleged ethnic contempt and cyber harassment following remarks shared in a viral TikTok video.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the case followed a review of the video, which detectives alleged contained remarks warranting prosecution over incitement and online harassment.
The two cases highlight the legal scrutiny that can follow online publications where authorities allege that content has crossed into criminal conduct.
For the Nairobi TikToker, the immediate focus remains on the October 26 hearing, when the court is expected to consider his application for bail as the KSh500,000 extortion case proceeds.
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