TikTok personality Joseph Gitonga Kihanya, popularly known as Gitonga Archives, has been ordered to undergo a mental assessment at Kenyatta National Hospital as he faces an extortion case involving KSh500,000.
City Court Magistrate Grace Ouko issued the order on Monday after Gitonga appeared before the court following his arrest in Nakuru and subsequent transfer to Nairobi.
His appearance came after a warrant of arrest was issued on October 1 when he failed to attend scheduled court proceedings.
The court had expected him to appear to answer to the charges against him.Gitonga’s lawyer, Joshua Nyamori, had previously asked the court to reinstate his client’s bail, arguing that he missed the proceedings because he was unwell.
However, the court was reportedly not provided with medical records to support the explanation.Following his failure to attend court, the magistrate cancelled his bond and ordered that he remain in custody as his application for fresh bail is considered.
The latest directive requires him to undergo a mental assessment at Kenyatta National Hospital as the case continues.Gitonga is accused of demanding KSh500,000 from Amos Hunja Mwangi, a media service provider linked to Cooperative Bank of Kenya.
The prosecution alleges that the offence occurred between July 20 and July 27, 2025, within Nairobi County.
According to the prosecution, Gitonga committed the alleged offence alongside another person who has not yet been brought before the court.Investigators claim the demand was linked to a video published on Gitonga’s TikTok account in which he alleged that KSh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.
The prosecution alleges that Gitonga demanded KSh500,000 in exchange for removing the video and refraining from publishing further content about the financial institution.
Mwangi reportedly told detectives that the TikToker threatened to release additional material that could damage the institution’s reputation if the money was not paid.
He previously pleaded not guilty and was released on a KSh50,000 cash bail or an alternative bond of KSh100,000 as he awaited trial.
The court’s latest decision comes as Gitonga seeks fresh bail following the cancellation of his earlier bond. The mental assessment is expected to form part of the ongoing court proceedings.
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