Blogger Arrested After Leaking Kidero’s Dirty Deals at KNTC

A Kenyan political blogger and former aide to Dr. Evans Kidero has been arrested on cyberbullying charges following social media posts critical of his former employer’s management of a state corporation, according to court documents obtained by this publication.

Omondi Nyangla, along with fellow blogger Benjamin Ogana, faces charges under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act after publishing allegations of nepotism and mismanagement against Dr. Evans Kidero, the current chairperson of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) and former Governor of Nairobi County.

Legal Action Following Critical Posts

Court documents from the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi reveal that police officer CPL Opili Eric Edgar applied for search warrants to access the bloggers’ electronic devices, homes, and vehicles.

The ex-parte notice of motion, dated April 19, 2025, cites “cyber harassment” as the basis for the legal action.

The documents reviewed by Kenya Insights state that the investigation began after a complaint filed by Dr. Kidero’s personal assistant, who reported that the bloggers had written defamatory content on Facebook.

The application specifically notes that Nyangla had accused Dr. Kidero of being responsible for “bringing Mumias sugar company down while he was the managing director” and alleged involvement in “family enclave defined by favoritism, backroom deals and systematic misuse of public resources.”

Blogger’s Allegations

According to posts shared alongside the court documents, Nyangla had published a detailed critique of Dr. Kidero’s leadership at the KNTC, alleging that Kidero had appointed his son Roney Kidero and maternal cousin Evance Ochieng to positions within the corporation.

The blogger also claimed that patterns similar to those at Mumias Sugar Company and during Kidero’s tenure as Nairobi Governor were emerging at the state trading corporation.

In his post, Nyangla wrote: “President William Ruto appointed him to lead KNTC in the public interest. Instead, the corporation is morphing into a family enclave—defined by favoritism, backroom deals, and the systematic misuse of public resources.”

Criticism of Arrest

The arrest has sparked criticism from fellow bloggers and social media commentators who view it as an attempt to silence political criticism.

Blogger Gordon Opiyo compared Kidero’s actions unfavorably to those of other political figures, writing: “If Raila Odinga were to arrest everyone who criticized him, the way Kidero is doing, we would have tens of thousands of people in jail.”

Another blogger, Newton Kapiyo, noted that Nyangla had previously worked to support Kidero: “The two guys in question; Benji Jakogana and Omondi Nyangla worked tirelessly during the last General Elections and the period before that to clean your already tainted name.”

Questions About Due Process

According to Opiyo’s post, concerns have been raised about the manner of Nyangla’s arrest, claiming that “Kidero sent this rogue Police Officer with a search warrant, and the rogue Police Officer took Nyangla, snatched his phone and never allowed him to call anyone,” which Opiyo stated “goes against arrest protocol.”

The court documents reveal that investigators sought access to Facebook accounts, WhatsApp chats, and various electronic devices belonging to the respondents to gather evidence for their investigation.

The case highlights ongoing tensions in Kenya regarding freedom of expression online and the use of cybercrime legislation against government critics.

Media freedom advocates have previously expressed concern that Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act could be used to target journalists and bloggers for legitimate political criticism.

Dr. Kidero, who served as Nairobi’s first governor from 2013 to 2017, has faced various corruption allegations throughout his career, including during his time as managing director of Mumias Sugar Company and as governor.

He has consistently denied wrongdoing in these cases.

Nyangla is expected to appear in court tomorrow to face the cyberbullying charges.