Nakuru blogger arrested for ‘misusing’ communication gadget

A Nakuru-based blogger was on Tuesday arrested and interrogated for hours by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for allegedly sharing obscene pictures of Governor Kinuthia Mbugua’s daughter on social media.

Mr Elijah Kinyanjui, who runs a Facebook page called Nakuru County News Online, allegedly shared the pictures initially posted on the Kenya Daily Post’s platform.

“I shared pictures posted on the Kenya Daily Post of a girl said to be the daughter to the governor,” the blogger told the Nation at the Nakuru Central Police Headquarters.

On the shared photo, he commented: “If this are the kind of children our leaders are bringing up then we have no leaders.”

According to sources, police have been looking for the blogger and journalist since January 8, when they stormed his home but could not find him.

The blogger, who was accompanied by Nakuru-based Human Rights Network director David Kuria, said he was picked up from his home by DCI officers on Tuesday morning.

He was later locked up at the Nakuru Central Police station cells.

Mr Kuria told the Nation that the blogger had been arrested for undisclosed reasons.

“Yes, he called at around 9am to inform me about his arrest and he sounded composed as we spoke on the phone,” he said, adding that the arrest could be a ploy to silence his frequent criticism of the county government.

The Facebook page run by Mr Kinyanjui was recently used to post allegations of corruption and misuse of funds in the Nakuru County government.

Nakuru Central police station commander Bamfort Tsurwa, who confirmed the arrest, said the blogger had recorded statements and could be charged in court on Wednesday with misusing a communication gadget.

He was denied bail.