Blogger arrested for allegedly insulting Nyeri governor's relatives
Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua. A blogger was arrested in Nyeri on February 29, 2016 for allegedly insulting the governor's relatives. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Martha Wanjiru Miano was arrested on Monday at Karatina town after county officials led by spokesman Jack Kabiru and the governor’s brother Rigathi Gachagua reported the matter to police.
- In one of the most swift operations in the county, the 23-year-old blogger was arrested on Monday afternoon and by evening, had been taken to court.
- The Governor’s brother, Rigathe Gachagua, is said to be eying the Mathira seat and is deeply involved in harambees and other events in the constituency, which is the most populous in the county.
A blogger has been arrested in Nyeri for allegedly insulting relatives of Governor Nderitu Gachagua in a case that has exposed the political divide in the county ahead of the 2017 elections.
Ms Martha Wanjiru Miano was arrested on Monday in Karatina after county officials, led by spokesman Jack Kabiru and the governor’s brother Rigathi Gachagua, reported the matter to police.
In one of the most swift operations in the county, the 23-year-old blogger was arrested on Monday afternoon and by evening she had been taken to court.
The magistrate ordered that she be detained for seven days “to give police time to conduct investigations”.
Ms Miano works for Mathira MP Peter Weru at the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) offices.
Mr Rigathe Gachagua is said to be eying the Mathira seat and is deeply involved in harambees and other events in the constituency, which is the most populous in the county.
Other leaders have, however, condemned the arrest, saying it is a plot to intimidate those opposed to the governor and his family.
“They are harassing the young girl simply because she took on powerful individuals,” said Jubilee Party officials, led by Nyeri TNA chairman Wambugu Nyamu.
Ms Miano was accused of posting abusive messages accusing Mr Rigathi Gachagua of misusing county funds and acting as the de facto county chief when Governor Gachagua is not in the county.
She is also alleged to have posted other messages accusing county communication director Jack Kabiru of abusing his office.
She also allegedly posted messages to imply that Mr Kabiru is a student at Karatina University, that she had seen his academic papers and that he had not been performing well in his exams.
Mr Rigathi Gachagua and Mr Kabiru have recorded statements with the police denying Ms Miano's allegations on a Facebook page.
Mr Kabiru has also denied being a student at Karatina University.
Investigating Officer Maximilla Amwatok told the court that he wanted to visit the cybercrime unit in Nairobi to conduct further investigations on the alleged social media posts.
Resident magistrate John Aringo gave police seven more days to complete their investigations.
