Isaac Kibet was on Monday 27th arraigned in a Nairobi court and charged with publishing a social media post alleging that Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a post on Citizentv.co.ke, Magistrate Martha Mutuku, in her ruling, said she had carefully considered the submissions and taken into account the nature of investigations. Kibet will be detained for two days to allow completion of the police probe and the matter was set to be mentioned on Wednesday.
The prosecution opposed his release on bail saying he would interfere with the Facebook account as well as the evidence and witnesses likely to be called in the case, further requesting for a 14-day detention period. The defence, however, argued against the application saying it was an infringement on the suspect’s rights, adding that Mr Kibet already surrendered his laptop and phones with all passwords.
Kibet and his counterpart Emanuel Kimutai Kosgei had been arrested on Saturday 25th by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives at Ngeria area in Uasin Gishu County. The DCI also confiscated laptop and mobile phone linked to the alleged publication of the social media post by Kibet.