Court orders mental assessment for TikToker Gitonga Archives after arrest

City Court Magistrate Grace Ouko issued the directive on Monday after Gitonga appeared before the court following his arrest in Nakuru and transfer to Nairobi.

His arrest followed a warrant issued on October 1 after he failed to appear for scheduled court proceedings.

Gitonga’s lawyer, Joshua Nyamori, had earlier sought the reinstatement of his client’s bail, explaining that his absence from court was due to illness. However, the court was reportedly not provided with medical records to substantiate the claim.

The court subsequently cancelled his bond and ordered that he remain in custody pending the determination of his application for fresh bail.

The latest directive requires Gitonga to be assessed at Kenyatta National Hospital as the proceedings continue.

Gitonga is facing charges of allegedly demanding KSh500,000 from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a media service provider linked to Cooperative Bank of Kenya.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence took place between July 20 and July 27, 2025, within Nairobi County.

The prosecution claims Gitonga acted alongside another person who has yet to be brought before the court in demanding the money from Mwangi.

Investigators allege that the demand was connected to a video posted on Gitonga’s TikTok account in which he claimed that KSh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.

The prosecution further alleges that Gitonga demanded KSh500,000 in exchange for taking down the video and refraining from publishing additional content about the financial institution.

Mwangi reportedly told detectives that the TikToker threatened to release further material that could harm the institution’s reputation if the money was not paid.

Gitonga has denied the allegations and previously pleaded not guilty. He was initially released on a KSh50,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of KSh100,000 as he awaited trial.