How Detectives Unmasked A Teacher Behind ‘Must Go’ X Account Sharing Altered Nude Images of President Ruto and First Lady

A teacher who allegedly used social media to post manipulated images of President William Ruto and the First Lady faces up to ten years in prison if convicted under Kenya’s cybercrime laws, authorities said Tuesday.

Titus Wekesa Sifuna appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on charges of publishing false information after allegedly operating an X (formerly Twitter) account that posted what investigators described as “derogatory and disrespectful” content targeting the President and his family.

Digital Breadcrumbs Lead to Arrest

According to court documents filed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Sifuna operated the account “@Thief_5th” with the username “I Must Go” — a phrase that has become associated with anti-Ruto protests.

The account’s profile picture featured an image of President Ruto himself.

DCI investigator Peter Mwangi told the court that the investigation began after intelligence reports flagged the account for posting manipulated images showing the President and First Lady in compromising situations, including what sources describe as doctored photos of both the President and the First Lady in bikini wear.

The investigation revealed several digital breadcrumbs that allegedly led to Sifuna:

– The X account was linked to “Umbrella Trex Solution,” a business associated with the suspect
– The account solicited graphic design work with a contact phone number
– Investigators traced the phone number through telecommunications records
– The National Registration Bureau provided additional identification details
– Location data from the account showed frequent activity in Msambweni, Kwale County

These digital traces culminated in Sifuna’s arrest on April 18 in Bungoma, approximately one week before his court appearance.

“Crossing the Line”

Prosecutors plan to charge Sifuna under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, which prohibits publishing false information that could cause panic, chaos, violence, or damage to someone’s reputation.

If convicted, he faces a fine of up to Sh5 million, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.

“The postings in the X account are of great harm to the reputation of the country, being in the sense that the Presidency is a symbol of national unity and ought to be respected and honoured by all,” investigator Mwangi stated in court documents.

A check through his profile shows that despite warnings from other social media users urging restraint, the account continued posting increasingly provocative content that investigators say crossed the line from legitimate criticism to harassment and cyberbullying.

Even Saddique Shabban, a journalist known for his criticism of the Ruto administration, reportedly distanced himself from the account’s tactics, stating: “There’s a thin line, almost obscure, but very visible, between hate speech, bullying, trolling, cyber crimes, fair comment, criticism, critique, loose talk and remarks inspired by personal spite and mere abuse. Young people hiding under pseudonym accounts need to know this.”

Ongoing Investigation

Police requested the court to detain Sifuna for seven days at Capitol Hill police station while they continue their investigation. During this period, investigators plan to:

– Examine the suspect’s phones, laptop, and hard disks
– Obtain certified posts from X (Twitter) to confirm account ownership
– Travel to Msambweni, Kwale County, where the suspect allegedly worked as a volunteer teacher, to gather additional evidence

The court will rule on the detention application on Wednesday.