Blogger Boniface Omondi Nyangla is facing a 20 year jail term for insulting former Nairobi Governer Evans Kidero.
According to court documents, Mr. Nyangla allegedly used his Facebook account under the name “Omondi Nyangla” to post content deemed offensive and insulting toward Dr. Kidero on April 20th 2025.
State prosecutor Hillary Isiaho told the court that Mr Nyangla published the insults on his Facebook account in Dholuo that he says detrimentally affected the reputation and character of the former governor.
During court proceedings, Mr. Nyangla raised concerns about how he was treated by the police. He claims he was held incommunicado denied access to legal representation, family, or communication during his arrest and detention, an act he says violates his constitutional rights under Article 49 and 50 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantee the right to a fair hearing and legal counsel.
He said, ” I wish to register my complaint before this court that the police breached my fundamental and constitutional rights for holding me incommunicado and without arraining me in court for five days”.
Mr Nyangla futher says his family only learnt of his arrest after a fellow cell mate helped to reach out to a former MCA who then relayed the information to the family as the police had denied him access to reach them.
The accused was released on a cash bail of sh1,000,000 with a surety of a similar amount with an alternative cahs bail of ksh400,000.
The case will be mentioned on May 6th 2025 .
The case adds to a growing list of legal actions involving online expression in Kenya, raising questions about the balance between defamation laws, public figures’ reputations, and citizens’ right to critique those in power.