A Tanzanian musician has been charged before a Mombasa court over an alleged sexual offence said to have taken place earlier this week in Nyali. The case, presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, places the artist at the centre of a serious criminal trial now set to proceed under Kenyan law.
Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, widely known as Matonya, appeared before Chief Magistrate Robinson Ondiek on Thursday at the Shanzu Law Courts, where he faced one count of rape. The charge was brought under Section 3(1) as read with Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act No. 3 of 2006. The 43-year-old denied the accusation.
According to the prosecution, the alleged incident occurred on April 7, 2026, at an apartment located in Nyali Sub-County within Mombasa County. The court was informed that the accused is alleged to have unlawfully committed the act against an adult woman.
During the proceedings, Principal Prosecution Counsel Keya Ombele asked the court to impose strict bond conditions. The prosecution argued that the accused is a foreign national and does not have a fixed place of residence in Kenya, raising concerns about his availability for trial.
The court was told that firm terms would help ensure he remains within the court’s reach until the case is concluded.
The court granted bond set at Sh 500,000, with a requirement for one Kenyan surety. In addition, the accused was ordered to surrender his Tanzanian passport and was barred from leaving the country without the court’s approval. Immigration authorities were also directed to place an alert at all border entry and exit points.
The case is expected to proceed as the court maintains measures aimed at securing the accused’s attendance throughout the trial.
