A Nairobi court has issued a warrant of arrest against Kinuko 96.5 blogger Kitovoto Mutinda after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing in a case filed by Mwingi Central MP Gideon Mulyungi.
The warrant was issued on Monday, March 23, 2026, by Milimani Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi after both the accused and his lawyer failed to attend court, forcing the proceedings to stall.
Mutinda is facing nine counts of publishing false information contrary to Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018. The charges relate to alleged posts circulated across multiple WhatsApp groups targeting the legislator.
The court heard that the matter had previously been adjourned after the accused’s lawyer informed the court that his client was unwell. However, no explanation was provided for his absence during Monday’s hearing.
Through his lawyer, MP Mulyungi applied for the issuance of a warrant of arrest, arguing that the accused had continued to publish damaging information despite the case being active in court.
The court further granted an oral application barring Mutinda from publishing any content deemed false or injurious to the MP pending the hearing and determination of the case. His cash bail was also forfeited.
In her ruling, Magistrate Ndombi emphasized the need to preserve the integrity of the proceedings, directing that the accused refrain from disseminating any material related to the case that is alleged to be false and harmful to the complainant.
According to the charge sheet, Mutinda is said to have published the disputed information on August 9, 2024, through a platform identified as Kinuko 96.5 FM and shared it across several WhatsApp groups, including forums associated with Kitui leaders and Mwingi residents, with the intent that the information be considered authentic.
The case is expected to proceed once the accused is apprehended and presented before the court.
