Bongo music star Matonya at a Shanzu court in Mombasa.
Popular Tanzanian Bongo star Matonya, whose real name is Sefu Shabani Ramadhan, was on Thursday charged with rape before a court in Shanzu, Mombasa County.
The prosecution alleges that on April 7, 2026, at Josy Joka Apartments in Nyali Sub-County, the accused intentionally and unlawfully penetrated the complainant identified in court documents as J.G by use of force.
The Vaileti hit maker was charged with the offence contrary to Section 3(1)(a) as read with Section 3(3) of the Sexual Offences Act.
He faces an alternative charge of committing an indecent act with an adult with the court told that he inappropriately touched the woman’s private parts against her will.
The court granted the accused a bond of Sh500,000 with one Kenyan surety of a similar amount.
His hit song Vaileti took East Africa by storm and introduced Matonya as a Bongo Flava sensation.
The prosecution opposed any attempt to grant the suspect cash bail noting that he is a foreign national.
“We pray that he provides a Kenyan surety, deposits his passport in court and that a red alert be issued to immigration authorities. He should not leave the country without permission of the court,” the prosecution submitted.
The artist’s advocate however asked the court for lenient bond terms including the option of cash bail, stating that the accused was ready to comply with all conditions set by the court.
Singer Matonya.
“The accused may be admitted to bond of Sh500,000 with a surety of a similar amount,” the court ruled.
The court further ordered that witness statements be supplied to the accused ahead of the trial.
As part of the bond conditions, the accused was directed to deposit his passport in court and barred from leaving the court’s jurisdiction without prior permission.
A red alert was also issued to immigration authorities to prevent him from leaving the country without authorisation.
The case will be mentioned on April 30, 2026, for pre-trial directions.
