Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has revealed the first journalist who is likely to be sued for spreading fake news.
Mutua, who is in Kisii County, was touring the banks of the torrential Gucha River when a nearby bridge collapsed.
However, reports by some media stations indicated that Mutua had fallen into the river while other claimed he had been rushed to hospital.
[caption caption="Governor Mutua in Kisii"]
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Following the spread of the alleged fake news, Mutua issued a statement indicating: "I have written a statement with the CID at Ogembo Police Station so that Standard Journalist Geoffrey Mosoku may be charged with spreading fake news and cyberbullying."
He further accused the journalist of lying that Mutua had fallen into River Gucha and that he was taking a selfie when the bridge collapsed.
"The new law that President Uhuru Kenyatta just assented to will be used to charge all those lying and others copying and spreading lies about the Gucha incident.
"We have video evidence that contradicts the lies and hundreds of witnesses. Fake news, impunity, and abuse of social media have to end.
"I urge editors and internet site managers to verify the truth and to pull down the false Gucha river incident information they are reporting and to correct it with the truth.
Mutua further revealed that the case on spreading fake news and cyberbullying was reported under the OB 34/18/5/18.
"My statement will be used to charge all those who publish and retain online lies (about the incident)," Mutua quipped.
Section 12 of the newly signed law indicates: "A person who intentionally publishes false, misleading, or fictitious data or misinforms with the intent that the data shall be considered or acted upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence."
[caption caption="The collapsed River Gucha bridge"]
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"On conviction, such a person will be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh 5 Million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both," the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018 states.
