Two Kenyans arrested for alleged false publication of information on social media

Two Kenyans have been arrested for allegedly authoring and publishing false information about a senior government official, on social media.

Isaac Kibet Yego, a freelance journalist and Emanuel Kimutai Kosgei were arrested on Saturday 25^th July by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officials at Ngeria, Eldoret Uasin Gishu County.

The DCI also seized a laptop and two mobile phones which were allegedly used in the processing and disseminating the misleading information.

In a statement on their twitter account, the DCI warned that any person who publishes false information, out of malice or sheer morbid hatred for another person, will have committed an offence against the law as provided under the Communication Act and will suffer punishment as stipulated by the law.

“It is extremely callous for one detached from a sense of humanity to cause calculated, choreographed, planned, coordinated, conspired panic, apprehension, shock, devastation etc that may ha var reaching consequences not limited to sudden risks to life. For those who may be used to in the commission of these crimes, the law will be applied to you as well as your principal offenders who aid, abet or counsel you to commit the offence,” said the DCI on Twitter.

Section 29 of the Kenya Information and Constitution Act (KICA) was declared unconstitutional, which means the two will probably be charged under the Cybercrimes law.

According to Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act publication of false information is an offence punishable by law. If the two are found guilty, they will be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings, or a term not exceeding ten years or both.

image