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University student David Oaga Mokaya (left) and President William Ruto (right) |
A university student has been charged with publishing false information about President William Ruto. . What did David Mokaya post about Ruto? On Monday, November 18, David Oaga Mokaya was arraigned before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi, where he was charged with misuse of computers and cybercrimes. Mokaya was charged with publishing false information by posting an image of a funeral procession featuring a casket covered with the Kenyan flag escorted by military officers in ceremonial uniform.
According to the charge sheet, Mokaya is accused of sharing the image in his X account and captioning it to suggest it showed President William Ruto’s body being transported. “The particulars of the offense are that on 13th November 2024 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, Mokaya knowingly published information that is false an image of a funeral procession with a casket covered with a Kenyan flag, escorted by military officers in ceremonial uniform, which you captioned, “President William Ruto’s Body Leaves Lee Funeral Home” over a computer system “X” using account “LANDLORD@bozgabi” that resulted in panic among the public,” the charge sheet seen by TUKO.co.ke reads.
The university student is accused of falsifying the date and other details to make the post appear genuine. Mokaya, who pleaded not guilty to charges of publishing false information, was granted the accused person a bond of KSh 100,000 with an alternative cash bail of KSh 50,000. Why charges against David Mokaya might be dismissed In 2017, Judge E C Mwita of the High Court declared Section 132 of the Penal Code unconstitutional and invalid.
He stated that public criticism is necessary for citizens to inform their leaders about actions that may not serve the nation’s interests, and such criticism helps public officers understand citizens’ feelings. The ruling came after the now Kileleshwa MCA, Robert Alai, filed a petition following his purported abusive remarks about the ex-president, Uhuru Kenyatta.
by Zipporah Weru Amos Khaemba