The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has confirmed the release of Kisii-based blogger Kelvin Moinde, days after his arrest.
Moinde was apprehended on Saturday, June 7, by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). He was accused of publishing false information through social media posts that allegedly portrayed Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat, in a negative light. After his arrest in Kisii, Moinde was transported over 300 kilometers to Nairobi, where he was held at Kamukunji Police Station.
However, on Monday, June 9, the ODPP issued a public statement confirming that, upon reviewing the investigation file, the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had found no sufficient evidence to support the charges. As a result, Moinde was released unconditionally.
“Upon careful perusal of the inquiry file, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is satisfied that there is no sufficient evidence to charge Mr. Kelvin Moinde,” read part of the statement from the ODPP.
Moinde’s release comes amid rising public scrutiny over the use of false publication charges to target online critics. His arrest occurred on the same day as that of another blogger, Albert Ojwang, who was later found dead in police custody under disturbing and unclear circumstances. Both cases drew widespread attention and raised questions about the police’s approach to digital expression and the treatment of detained individuals.
We actually don’t know if Moinde was just lucky after social media uproar maybe he could have been handled the same way as Ojwang and other fellows who have lost their life’s under unclear circumstances. This case is a reminder of the need for the police and investigative agencies to act within the confines of the law, respect digital rights, and uphold constitutional freedoms.
While we celebrate his release, we urge continued vigilance to ensure that freedom of expression is protected, and that bloggers, journalists, and online users are not arbitrarily targeted or silenced. And as The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) , we remain concerned about the increasing trend of arrests targeting individuals for their social media activity often without due cause or credible evidence.