Kenyan Twitter User Arrested for Publishing False Information on Coronavirus

A 23-year-old Kenyan social media user has been arrested for publishing false and misleading information about the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Elijah Muthui Kitonyo was arrested on Sunday by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Mwingi, Kitui County.

Kitonyo is alleged to have made a post on Twitter accusing the government of lying to Kenyans about the country’s first Covid-19 case.

In the tweet, Kitonyo who claimed to be a Kenya Airways employee alleged that the purported coronavirus patient landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) from Rome, Italy, and not the US as announced by the Health Ministry on Friday.

“The govt has lied to us. The said lady is Millicent Musau and she came yesterday from Rome boarded in this plane... Am a staff at KQ and I know what happened. Guys they are lying to us,” posted Kitonyo.

The DCI said the suspect will be charged with the offense of publishing false information contrary to section 23 of Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act of 2018.

“A person who knowingly publishes information that is false in print, broadcast, data or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or which is likely to discredit the reputation of a person commits an offense and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or to both,” part of the law states.