Drama unfolded in court during the hearing of blogger and political commentator Nuru Okanga’s case when defence lawyer Hon. Babu Owino subjected a cyber forensic expert to a blistering cross-examination that left the courtroom in laughter and the expert’s report in disarray.
The prosecution’s key witness, forensic analyst Juma Mwajirani, struggled to defend both his qualifications and the integrity of his digital-forensics report. Babu challenged the legitimacy of the institution from which Mwajirani claimed to hold certification, pointing out that the institution does not issue cyber-forensic analyst credentials—casting immediate doubt on his expertise.
The defence further highlighted glaring inconsistencies in Mwajirani’s report, including his reliance on a 2023 reference letter to support a forensic investigation allegedly conducted in 2024. Babu dismissed the report as “incorrect,” factually unreliable, and scientifically weak.
Mwajirani also failed to demonstrate any concrete digital links between Okanga and the contested social media accounts, SIM card, or video content at the center of the case. Even his mispronunciation of the word “Cellebrite,” a leading digital forensics tool, became a point of ridicule and amplified doubts about his credibility.
By the end of the fiery exchange, the cyber expert’s competence had been severely undermined, raising questions about the strength of the prosecution’s evidence against Nuru Okanga.