Kenya police are on spotlight again for arresting popular Facebook content creator May Jerono over an alleged social media post she had earlier shared and transported her to Kitale before later releasing her on bond.
The 33-year-old was reportedly picked up by plain-clothes officers in Nakuru on Saturday without a clear explanation, then taken approximately 200 kilometres to Kitale Police Station, where she was detained overnight. She was freed early Saturday and later confirmed her safety in a video shared via social media.
Prior to her arrest, officers visited her mother’s workplace Athinai Primary School in search of May. May’s Mother Ms. Ruto, a primary school teacher, says officers stormed her classroom, forced her out in front of pupils and colleagues, and made her sit on the floor. She was then taken to Kaptembwo Police Station for questioning, where she was allegedly not provided a clear reason for her detention.
May’s lawyer, Ms. Metrine Situma, described her arrest as unprocedural, arguing that the Facebook post in question did not constitute a criminal offence. Supporters and political figures, including People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, condemned the alleged tactics, particularly the treatment of May’s mother. Karua called the alleged coercion “totally unacceptable and criminal.”
During her release on Saturday, May explained that her phone had been confiscated, preventing her from updating followers about her situation. The family is now calling for an investigation into the conduct of the officers involved. The matter is scheduled to resume in Kitale Court on March 2, 2026.