Jackson Kuria Kihara, popularly known as Cop Shakur, a prison officer attached to Bungoma Main Prison, has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being charged with publishing false information online.
Kihara’s arrest and subsequent court appearance mark a significant test of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act No. 5 of 2018, which seeks to curb the spread of misinformation in the digital age.
The warden was arrested on January 15, 2025, following allegations that he knowingly disseminated false information via his X account, where he operates under the username Shakur the Cop.
The contentious post, published on January 11, 2025, reportedly violated Section 23 of the Act, which criminalizes the deliberate spread of falsehoods that may incite public unrest or mislead the public.
Appearing before Milimani Court No. 5, Kihara pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was granted a bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000.
The court directed him to adhere strictly to the terms of his release as investigations into the matter continue.
The case has been scheduled for mention on February 17, 2025, with legal experts and social commentators closely watching its progress.
The incident highlights the growing scrutiny of social media use by public officers and the broader implications of digital accountability in Kenya.
As the case unfolds, it raises critical questions about the balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility to ensure accurate and lawful communication in the digital space.
The outcome could set a precedent for how cases involving misinformation are handled under the law.
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.