BY SAM ALFAN.
Police are seeking to detain activist Mutemi Kiama who was arrested over a viral poster using President Uhuru Kenyatta image warning IMF against giving Kenya government loans for fourteen days pending investigation.
Through senior assistant director of public Prosecution Joseph Riungi, police wants the activist detained for two weeks to allow police complete the probe I to the matter
“The court be pleased to issue custodial orders directing that the Respondent (Mutemi Kiama) be detained for fourteen days pending the conclusion of the investigations,” urged Prosecution.
Prosecution wants Kiama detained on grounds that he is under investigations relating to possible offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, No. 5 of 2018 and if the orders sought are not granted, he is likely to interfere with the investigations and with potential witnesses.
Investigating officer Patrick Kibowen attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Central Nairobi further told the court that they are investigating a case of suspected contravention of a number of provisions of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, No. 5 of 2018 including False Publication contrary to section 22(1) as read with section 22(2) (b) and (d) thereof.
Kibowen added that the suspected offences are suspected to have occurred on different occasions between April 5 and 6, 2021 by way of publication on social media.
“The preliminary investigations have disclosed that the Twitter Handles “Mwarimu wa Kiama” @MutemiWaKiama and “Wanjiku RevolutionTM” @WanjikuRevolt on which the suspected criminal publication was made is linked to the Respondent and as as a result of the suspected link of the Respondent to the said Twitter Handles, and the publications thereon, the Respondent was accordingly arrested on the April 6,2021,” said the officer.
He added that during his arrest, Kiama was found in possession of three (3) laptops, a Toshiba Hard Drive and two (2) mobile phones belonging to him and the said laptops, hard drive and two (2) mobile phones have been submitted to the Digital Forensic Laboratory for forensic examination whose reports are yet to be received.
“We have reasonable suspicion that the laptops, hard drive and two (2) mobile phones recovered from the Respondent contain crucial information which may assist in the relevant investigations and and we also have reasonable suspicion that he must have been in collusion with other persons whom we are still pursuing, ” he added.
Police claim they have reasonable suspicion that Kiama, if not detained as requested, may remotely delete the suspected false publications thereby interfering with the investigations.
However magistrate Jane Kamau detained the activist until Thursday when she is expected to deliver her ruling on the request by the police.
