Kitui-based blogger Emmanuel Maleve has been arrested and detained at Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi.
His arrest has been linked to a controversial article he wrote and published, linking an MP from Kitui County to corruption.
Maleve's disappearance was first reported by activist Boniface Mwangi, who said the blogger had been picked up by police officers, in a Land Cruiser under unclear circumstances.
Maleve's colleagues linked his arrest to the recent article where he sought to expose alleged corruption schemes by the said MP.
Police officers from the Kitui Central Police Station had denied taking the blogger into their custody.
''Maleve's colleagues linked his abduction to an article he had written calling Kitui South MP, Rachael Kaki, "Queen of Corruption", Mwangi claimed.
Speaking to journalists, Lawyer Evans Ondieki revealed that the blogger was still detained at the Muthaiga police station despite efforts to have him released.
"He was arrested because he published a story on corruption. Funds were allocated for a purpose, and they were never used for that purpose; that is what he communicated, and it led to his arrest," Ondieki said.
Following the article, the MP filed a petition against the blogger, Ondieki revealed, as he demanded Maleve's release.
Former Governor Charity Ngilu has also condemned the arrest, demanding that the blogger be released immediately.
According to Ngilu, politicians should respect freedom of expression and stop using their power to intimidate people.
"I have received disheartening reports of the shameful arrest of blogger, Emmanuel Maleve, in Kitui town. Surely, the days when politicians could threaten, intimidate, and even try to gag people from their democratic right of expression, association, and movement are long gone," Ngilu said.
"Let Emmanuel be released immediately and unconditionally. Politicians should refrain from using their offices to muzzle people’s democratic rights and space. Kenya is a free Nation and we have come a long way to be taken back to the dark days," the former governor continued.
This is not the first time a journalist has been arrested over a news article. Exactly a year ago, Kisii-based blogger Duke Nyabaro was found dead in Kitutu Chache South, Kisii County. His death was linked to a post he had made.
Nyabaro was known for his political commentary and had been active on social media just hours before his death.
