A court has ordered a popular Kenyan TikToker to undergo a mental assessment at Kenyatta National Hospital following his arrest over missed court proceedings in an extortion case.

City Court Magistrate Grace Ouko issued the directive on Monday, October 26, after the content creator, popularly known as Gitonga Archives appeared in court following his arrest for failing to honour bail conditions.

The assessment comes as the court considers his legal position after cancelling his earlier bond, with the case involving an alleged demand for Ksh500,000.

The TikToker faces charges of demanding property with menaces under Section 302 of the Penal Code, a tenet of the law that addresses the offence of demanding property through threats and intimidation, which he denies.

Prosecutors allege that between July 20 and July 27, 2025, he worked with another person to demand Ksh500,000 from a party, a media service provider linked to a local bank.

According to the prosecution, the demand followed a TikTok video in which the TikToker claimed Ksh1.6 billion had been stolen from a bank account.

Investigators were reportedly told that he threatened to publish more damaging material about the financial institution unless the money was paid, while his defense cited ill health to explain his missed court appearances.

His lawyer asked the court to reinstate his bail, saying his client had missed previous proceedings due to ill health, although medical documents were reportedly not presented.

The Tiktoker is known for publishing videos about alleged corruption, financial scandals and governance issues, often using his social media platforms to question institutions and public figures.

He is also associated with the famous Bunge la Wananchi grassroots movement and regularly comments on Kenyan politics, community controversies and other trending social issues.

Conditions for Mental Assessment Under Kenyan Law

Kenyan courts may order a mental assessment when questions arise about an accused person's ability to understand charges, follow proceedings or communicate effectively with their lawyer.

An assessment may also be necessary where an insanity defence is raised, since Section 11 of the Penal Code presumes every person to be of sound mind unless evidence establishes otherwise.

Courts may seek psychiatric evidence to guide decisions on criminal responsibility or appropriate treatment, but an assessment alone does not establish mental illness or determine the outcome of a criminal case.