UPDATE 21/08/2020 9:25 P.M: Charles Gichuki Ndiang’ui Kibe, creator of the government corruption tracker website, was released a day after his arrest.
Kibe was being held at Capitol Hill Police Station in Nairobi. A section of Kenyans had initiated a campaign demanding his release.
Amnesty International confirmed that Kibe was released without his phone or laptop. He was asked to check in with the DCI on Friday, August 28.
Activists and civil society players among other Kenyans rallied to demand the release of developer Charles Gichuki Ndiang’ui Kibe, creator of the popular Corruption Tracker website.
Kibe was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, August 20 after the police linked him to alleged espionage on Kenya for China, sharing a 'Wanted' poster online.
Others including Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi, however, read foul play in the arrest and offered to defend Kibe in court. He disclosed that Kibe was being held at Capitol Hill Police Station in Upper Hill, Nairobi.
Kibe's website, which tracked mega-scandals under the Jubilee administration led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, appeared to have been pulled down after the arrest.
"He has been held incommunicado since morning. DPP, I will appear for him when arraigned tomorrow. Please, let me know which Court it will be and send me a link if it will be virtual.
"The Kenya Judiciary is hereby notified of my appointment to act for Charles and should not ask him to take plea in my absence. The right to Counsel upon arrest and arraignment is guaranteed by Article 49 (1) (c) and 50 (2) (g) of The Constitution of Kenya," Havi wrote, raising questions on Kibe's treatment by police.
The platform developed by Kibe outlined amounts reported lost in various scandals since 2013, and also included a countdown to the end of Uhuru's term in 2022.
The website also provided satirical quotes from Uhuru and Ruto promising to take on even more corruption before leaving office.
The incident particularly left a section of Kenyans angry as it came at a time when state agents have been on the spot over draconian arrests.
The late night arrests of three Senators including Cleophas Malala, Stephen Lelegwe and Christopher Lang'at on Monday, August 17, were widely condemnded by, among others, Deputy President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.
The arrests of the Senators took place a day before they were expected in the house for a crucial vote on the revenue allocation formula, fueling speculation that political machinations informed the action.
Kibe's arrest also took place at a time when investigations are ongoing into an alleged mega-graft scandal over the use of Covid-19 funds.
The Covid-19 millionaires investigative report which aired on NTV revealed details of billions allocated to fight the pandemic which cannot be accounted for.
Kenyans rallied online to support Kibe demanding his release ahead of an expected appearance in court.
"We cannot be a country that silences those we don't agree with! A country that arrests those who criticize it! A country that is okay with misuse of public resources!" wrote Sheilah Birgen.
"So Kibe shared publicly available info, it went viral and the National Police Service decided to arrest him? What level of intolerance and insensitivity is this?" posed Kirui.
