He pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki and was released on a cash bail of Ksh30,000.
Francis Ng’ang’a Gaitho, a controversial politician and social media influencer, was on Thursday, July 18 charged with False Publications and Cyber Harassment.
Gaitho was arrested on July 17, 2024, and faced charges of false publications contrary to Section 22(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act No. 5 of 2018, and Cyber Harassment Contrary to Section 27(1)(a) of the same Act.
The court, according to a statement from the Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), heard that on July 15, 2024, at approximately 14:00 hours, while at an unknown location, he intentionally published false information on social media with the intent that the data would be considered or acted as authentic.
Photo of Francis Gaitho. /FRANCIS GAITHO
“He is also alleged to have, on the same day and at the same time, published false information about one Jairus Onkundi Morwabe, knowing or having reason to know that such publication would cause Morwabe apprehension or fear of violence, as well as damage or loss to his property,” the statement read in part.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges before Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki and was released on a cash bail of Ksh30,000.
The case will be mentioned on August 1, 2024, for pre-trial.
Gaitho presented himself to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after police announced that they were looking for him.Â
The police had intended to target him for arrest, but surprisingly, veteran journalist Macharia Gaitho was arrested on Wednesday before he was released with police claiming it was a case of mistaken identity, a matter disputed by various media stakeholders.
“The National Police Service would like to clarify to the public that this morning, we arrested journalist Macharia Gaitho in a case of mistaken identity, meant for the arrest of Francis Gaitho who is our subject of investigation,” NPS said in a statement.
Francis Gaitho was recently mentioned by the DCI for spreading misleading information regarding the identity of Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, the main suspect in the heinous Kware killings who was arrested on Monday.
In a press statement, DCI boss, Mohamed Amin denied social media reports that it was covering up key details in the ongoing investigations into the killings following the discovery of more than 10 bodies in a quarry in Mukuru Kwa Njenga.
“After our press briefing earlier today regarding the pursuit and subsequent arrest of the prime suspect in the Kware killings namely Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, we found it unfortunate that some X users discredited our investigation by alleging that we issued a misleading statement by getting the names of our 33-year-old suspect wrong,” the statement read in part.
“Specifically, one Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) on his X account carelessly and with total disregard to the need to verify information, indicated that there existed no public record of our suspect, and went ahead to post the names, images and description of another innocent Kenyan by the name Jairus Onkundi.”
Officers stand guard outside the DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road. /NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE