NAIROBI, Kenya – The Milimani Law Courts have issued a warrant of arrest for blogger Francis Gaitho after he failed to appear for a scheduled court session on December 4, 2024.
The blogger is facing charges of publishing false information under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the development on Thursday, stating that Gaitho’s absence led the court to order his immediate apprehension.
The DCI disclosed that the blogger is also being investigated for allegedly sharing personal information about a senior public official and defaming government officials through his posts.
According to the DCI, the case files have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for further action.
They appealed to the public for help in locating Gaitho, urging anyone with information to contact their toll-free hotline at 0800 722 203.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Gaitho announced plans to present himself to DCI headquarters on Monday, January 7, 2025, accompanied by his legal team.
“I’m not a criminal, a murderer, or a capital offender. I just tweet. Freedom of speech is a constitutional entitlement,” he wrote, calling the charges politically motivated.
Gaitho further accused law enforcement of attempting to intimidate him and erode his support network.
“This latest tweet by DCI is crafted to evoke fear and isolate me from friends and family. They could have easily served my lawyers directly,” he added.
The blogger expressed concerns about safety, referencing cases of enforced disappearances and abductions.
He appealed to the media to cover his case as a means of ensuring accountability from law enforcement agencies.
The blogger is facing charges of publishing false information under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced the development on Thursday, stating that Gaitho’s absence led the court to order his immediate apprehension.
The DCI disclosed that the blogger is also being investigated for allegedly sharing personal information about a senior public official and defaming government officials through his posts.
According to the DCI, the case files have been submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for further action.
They appealed to the public for help in locating Gaitho, urging anyone with information to contact their toll-free hotline at 0800 722 203.
In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), Gaitho announced plans to present himself to DCI headquarters on Monday, January 7, 2025, accompanied by his legal team.
“I’m not a criminal, a murderer, or a capital offender. I just tweet. Freedom of speech is a constitutional entitlement,” he wrote, calling the charges politically motivated.
Gaitho further accused law enforcement of attempting to intimidate him and erode his support network.
“This latest tweet by DCI is crafted to evoke fear and isolate me from friends and family. They could have easily served my lawyers directly,” he added.
The blogger expressed concerns about safety, referencing cases of enforced disappearances and abductions.
He appealed to the media to cover his case as a means of ensuring accountability from law enforcement agencies.
