Blogger Aoko freed on a Ksh.100K cash bail in publication of false information case

Aoko, who was arrested at her home on Friday, will return to court on September 2 for a pre-trial hearing.

The court was told that her laptop and phone, which were seized during her arrest, would not be released just yet because detectives were still investigating the matter.

Aoko is accused of using her social media handle to spread false and defamatory information about complainant Beth Wambui Mbuitu.

In a charge sheet obtained by Citizen Digital, the suspect, who was arrested on Friday, August 16, is accused of posting a tweet that was described as malicious, false, and well-planned to harm the complainant's reputation.

She posted the tweet on August 3, 2024, saying: “Maze it disorients me to say this.. But Amber Ray is innocent. She did not ruin marriage ya Jamal Amira.. Beth did..She’s the daughter of a powerful cop so if you find me thrown Kware, refer to this tweet… Ask how Jamal moved from Makanga wa South C to Matatu boss… Ndio naanza.”

According to the charge sheet, the remarks violated Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018, which states that if found guilty, a person faces a Ksh.5 million fine, a 10-year prison sentence, or both.

"A person who knowingly publishes false information in print, broadcast, data, or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or that is likely to discredit a person's reputation, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh.5 million or ten years in prison, or both," reads a portion of the Act.

Three witnesses are scheduled to testify, including Sergeant Norah Shigi, a Digital Forensics expert at Kenya's Communications Authority, and Chief Inspector Nickson Kinyua.