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| Tanzanian Musician Matonya Charged with Rape in Kenya. |
Tanzanian musician Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, widely known as Matonya, has been formally charged with rape in Kenya.
The 43 year old artist appeared before Chief Magistrate Robinson Ondiek at the Shanzu Law Courts in Mombasa, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
According to the prosecution, the alleged incident took place on April 7, 2026, at an apartment in Nyali Sub County within Mombasa County. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions told the court that the accused is alleged to have unlawfully committed the offence against an adult woman.
During the proceedings, Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele urged the court to impose strict bond conditions, citing concerns that the accused is a foreign national without a fixed residence in Kenya. The prosecution argued that such measures were necessary to ensure he remains available for trial and does not leave the court’s jurisdiction.
The court granted Matonya a bond of Ksh 500,000 with one Kenyan surety. He was also ordered to surrender his Tanzanian passport and prohibited from leaving the country without prior approval from the court.
In addition, immigration authorities were directed to place an alert at all exit points to prevent him from leaving Kenya without authorization as the case proceeds.
The matter is set to continue in court as investigations and legal proceedings move forward.
