A US‑based Kenyan community leader has launched an urgent fundraiser to help Abedinecho Kyalo Katue, a Kenyan nurse arrested in Florida on multiple sexual assault charges, secure legal representation as his high‑profile case unfolds.
Naomi Gichuki, a businesswoman and community mobilizer based in the United States, took to Facebook to appeal for financial support for Katue’s defence, saying the 46‑year‑old needs urgent legal assistance ahead of a critical hearing slated for the next day.
In her message, Gichuki described the appeal as “heartbreaking” and urged Kenyans and friends of the diaspora to contribute, citing a goal of raising $5,000 (about KSh 800,000) by 8:00 am Orlando time.
“Please please please LET US SAVE THIS YOUNG MAN! … I don’t even know the young man but I’m touched by this case!” she wrote, sharing contacts for donations and a WhatsApp group to coordinate support.
Gichuki’s appeal referenced previous support efforts within the diaspora, including fundraising for Isaac Gichiengo in 2024, and called on Kenyan and US‑based communities to rise again in solidarity.
Katue was arrested in March 2026 by Orlando Police after allegedly evading arrest for nearly a year following complaints that he sexually assaulted a physically incapacitated female patient at AdventHealth Orlando in January 2025.
Authorities allege the woman was unable to resist due to her condition and that Katue made inappropriate comments and touched her without consent. Investigators also say he administered morphine without patient consent.
He faces multiple felony counts, including sexual battery on a physically incapacitated person and lewd or lascivious battery on a disabled person, charges that carry significant prison terms under Florida law.
Katue remains held in Orange County Jail without bond as court proceedings continue.
Gichuki stressed that she is not collecting donations directly, but that contributions should be sent to Liz Muli, a Michigan‑based Kenyan who initially alerted her to the urgent need for legal funds.
She provided Zelle and Cash App details for US donors, and promised an M‑Pesa number for contributors in Kenya upon contacting Muli directly.
The Facebook appeal has drawn mixed reactions online, with some expressing concern about supporting someone charged with serious crimes, and others arguing that every defendant deserves legal representation.
Legal experts note that in the US, the right to counsel is fundamental, especially in cases with complex evidence and potential life‑changing outcomes.
As Katue’s legal team prepares for the next hearing, community mobilizers continue to push for rapid funding — highlighting the role of diaspora networks in supporting compatriots facing legal battles abroad.