Man Arrested For Publishing Misleading Coronavirus Information On Social Media

A 23-year-old man from Mwingi was earlier today arrested by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for spreading misleading and alarming information regarding the novel pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Elijah Muthui Kitonyo will be charged in line with the newly reinstated Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act of 2019 “He will be charged for publishing false information that is calculated or results in panic contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse.” reads a statement from the DCI.

Elijah Muthui Kitonyo aged 23 years has been arrested in Mwingi for publishing misleading and alarming information on Corona virus.

He will be charged for publishing false information that is calculated or results in panic contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse…
/1 pic.twitter.com/qH9PBVoS8n

— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) March 15, 2020

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Earlier this year, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) lost a case in which they were calling for the dismissal of the act saying it was unconstitutional. High Court Judge James Makau while delivering a verdict stated that the 26 suspended sections of the Act were constitutional.

Members of the public have been urged to be responsible and to desist from authoring, publishing or sharing unconfirmed information that may cause panic and anxiety regarding the disease which has so far infected 3 people in the country