Former NTV investigative journalist Steve Juma has released a dramatic and highly detailed public statement responding to allegations by Casten Mwende, who claims he took advantage of her at a Lang’ata residence in 2022 and later used his influence to stall the case.
Juma, breaking his silence for the first time, dismissed the accusations as “a coordinated script of malice, intimidation and attempted extortion.”
“Yes, We Met — But It Was Consensual,” Juma Says
In his lengthy statement, Juma confirms meeting Mwende in 2022, noting they first interacted at a popular entertainment spot before reconnecting for a night out with his friends.
According to him, the two later proceeded to an Airbnb she requested after saying she needed to rest. Juma claims Mwende willingly took his car keys, went to the room by herself, and was awake on her phone when he joined her.
He says the intimate encounter that followed was fully consensual, insisting she is the one who asked him, “Do you have protection?”
The Morning After: ‘Her Story Changed Suddenly’
Juma says the pair left the residence together the next morning and even joked with the security guard as she tipped him using money from his car.
However, he claims Mwende began directing him through suspiciously isolated routes while making unusual phone calls, prompting him to make a U-turn and drop her off elsewhere for safety reasons.
Shortly afterward, he says she called again and uttered the shocking words:
“Steve, I didn’t consent.”
Juma says he immediately suspected he was being recorded and could hear other voices around her.
The Police Report, the Shock — and the Alleged Setup
By early afternoon, Juma says he received an informal-looking WhatsApp document resembling a police report with only the word “R@P3” listed as the offence.
Alarmed, he rushed to the police station where the matter had allegedly been filed and recorded his statement voluntarily.
He then claims that when he went to another station to report money missing from his car, the intimidation escalated.
According to Juma:
- An officer unrelated to the case tried to force him into police cells
- His phone and watch were damaged
- Individuals accompanying Mwende filmed the confrontation
- The officer claimed he had “instructions” from her lawyer to detain him illegally
He says only the intervention of senior officers prevented him from being locked up.
“This Was Blackmail and Extortion” — Juma Claims
Juma alleges the entire sequence of events was engineered to pressure him into giving in to undisclosed demands.
He claims he later filed official complaints with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He maintains:
- He never bribed anyone
- He never tried to suppress the case
- He has never contacted Mwende since that day
An Emotional Appeal: ‘False Allegations Destroy Lives’
The journalist ends his statement with an emotional plea, saying he is a father, husband, and son whose reputation is being destroyed.
His final message urges the public not to rush to judgment:
“Be slow to judge. Be quick to question inconsistencies… Desperation is never permission to destroy someone’s name.”
The allegations and counter-allegations continue to generate intense public debate, with many now calling for clarity from investigative agencies.
