With how things are turning out to be, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is evidently harrasing bloggers!
Kenyans have been slowly ditching mainstream media for bloggers who without doubt have been reporting news “just the way they are” in a brave move that has seen most of them arrested.
Inline with the COVID-19 outbreak in Kenya, bloggers such as Xtian Dela, Cyprian Nyakundi and Robert Alai have been giving updates on the dreaded virus and at some point accused of causing panic other than being accused of spreading fake news.
Close to a week ago, blogger Xtian Dela made a statement on his WhatsApp stories claiming that government officials have contacted him accusing him of creating panic by posting updates on Coronavirus across his social media platforms before warning him of the worse.
Days later, blogger Robert Alai was summoned by DCI, later locked up at Mbagathi Police station and arraigned on Monday, March, 23 for allegedly sharing fake news online.
Alai alleged that government was concealing coronavirus-related information at the port of Mombasa, with the prosecution saying the information was meant to cause fear and panic.
Hours after his release, another vocal blogger; Cyprian Nyakundi announced through his social media platforms that he has information that KRA boss has paid detectives to arrest him for “creating panic”.
Nyakundi reported that the KRA boss had travelled out of the country but upon his return he refused to self quarantine for 14 days as required; to the ignorant KRA boss this is spreading panic.
Even more wondrous how the DCI is busy going after credible news sources while companies like Finlays Limited are exposing risks to their employees.
Kenyanbulletin.com has information that Finlays MD Steve Scott who travelled from England days ago is going around Finlays’s Kericho farm sneezing uncontrollably instead of going into quarantine for 14 days.
In line with the guidelines provided by the Health Ministry, companies like EPZ, Kitengela have refused to adhere to social distancing with workers crowded all over.
DCI should desist from all these nonsense and focus on saving the lives of Kenyans!
