Detectives from the Special Crime Unit (SCU) arraigned a suspect at Milimani Law Courts on December 15, 2025, for allegedly inciting violence and spreading false information online.
The charges related to a post made on December 6, 2025, on social media, which investigators said encouraged people to seize property owned by politicians and was intended to provoke an uprising.
“If you come across anything owned by politicians, start by taking it, these people have never worked anywhere, innovated or invented anything. Everything they own was stolen from Kenyans and must be returned to Kenyans. Arm yourselves and prepare for the coming uprising,” the post stated.
The SCU stated that the suspect “knew it to be false and intended to incite violence among the public.”
During the court appearance, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court set bail of Ksh 15,000 with the pretrial hearing scheduled for December 30, 2025.
The legal action stemmed from Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA), 2018, as amended in 2025, which regulates online behaviour and social media activity.
Key provisions included Section 27(1) on cyber harassment, which criminalised communications causing fear, violence, property damage, or self-harm, with penalties of up to ten years in jail or fines of up to Sh20 million.
Section 22 prohibited publishing false data intended to deceive, notably if it advocated hatred or incited violence. Section 23 specifically targeted known false information that could cause panic, chaos, or discredit individuals or institutions.
The law also addressed wrongful distribution of intimate images (Section 37), identity theft and impersonation (Section 29), and hate speech, restricting expression that threatened public safety.
Cybercrime reportedly cost Kenya approximately KSh 10.7 billion in 2023, underscoring the significant financial risks associated with online threats.
Studies also show that a significant portion of Kenyan social media users are unaware of their legal liabilities, leaving them exposed to prosecution under the CMCA.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations reminded Kenyans that “spreading false information online is a criminal offence” and urged responsible social media use.
