Facebook posts land Busia blogger in police cells
Busia blogger Paul Odhiambo, aka Amemba, who was on Tuesday evening locked up at the Busia Police Station for questioning over allegedly inflammatory Facebook posts. PHOTO | GAITANO PESSA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Paul Odhiambo, aka Amemba, was locked up at the Busia Police Station for questioning.
- Mr Odhiambo often posts comments on local politics on his Facebook page.
- But police claim some of those messages border on incitement and hate speech.
Police in Busia have arrested a blogger for publishing messages said to be offensive on his Facebook page.
Busia OCPD Masai Makau said Paul Odhiambo, aka Amemba, was on Tuesday evening locked up at the Busia Police Station for questioning.
According to the police boss, his arrest follows complaints from the public, who accused him of spreading hatred through his Facebook page and on WhatsApp.
“We have him in custody and our detectives are in possession of his phones to help us with investigations over some posts aimed at propagating animosity between some communities in Busia,” he said on Tuesday.
NCIC MONITORING
Mr Makau warned that his team and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) are monitoring the use of social media for hate-mongering.
“Let this group of people be warned that we are monitoring social media. We are following up on two individuals who we have been informed are spearheading hatred.
“Let it be known that NCIC has gone a step ahead and given us recording devices to help us in monitoring,” he added.
He warned the youth against being used by politicians especially during this campaign period.
Mr Odhiambo often posts comments on local politics on his Facebook page.
But police claim some of those messages border on incitement and hate speech.
