Kenyan bloggers accused of false publication set free
August 22, 2020
By Samuel Ouma
No case to answer for Jack Okinyi of Business Illustrated
Two bloggers who were detained over the publication of false information contrary to Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act have been released.
Jack Okinyi of Business Illustrated and Milton Were of Kenya today walked away scot-free after the Director of Public Prosecution Nordin Haji said they have no case to answer.
The state council Geoffrey Obiri stated that the charge sheet did not meet the threshold and merit to warrant prosecution as well as disclosing the offense committed.
They were reportedly abducted by the officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) following a story they published on irregular awarding of tender at the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA).
Jack and Milton were detained at Capitol Hill Police Station after being abducted, beaten, and wrapped in a trash paper.
“Jack was the first to be arrested from Upper Hill and driven to Mlolongo after being beaten up and wrapped in a trash paper before they traced Were and nabbed him. They were then taken around the city before they were booked at the Capitol Hill Police Station,” a source revealed.
KURA deputy director supply chain management Mrs. Sadia Haji Adam khalifa awarded Tasha Holding Company owned by Abdisirat Khalif Ali without following the right procedure.
Banisa MP Maalim is purported to have linked Abdisirat Khalif Ali to KURA.
The engineer was also alleged to have done substandard work.
In March this year, controversial blogger Robert Alai was arrested and charged at the Milimani Law Courts for publishing false information about the coronavirus.
In his post on Twitter, Alai claimed that the government was hiding information about coronavirus related deaths in Mombasa. He denied the charge and was released on a Ksh.50,000 cash bail.
