Godfrey Mwasiaga Kakan Maiyo, a Nairobi-based businessman and popular TikTok content creator, was released on a Ksh10,000 police bond on Friday, July 11, after spending hours in custody following his arrest over a viral video that authorities allege incited violence against police officers.
Maiyo, known for his outspoken social media presence and critiques of police conduct, was apprehended by plain-clothed detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Wednesday, July 9. The arrest took place at his logistics company office in Kimathi House, Nairobi, and was captured in a video that quickly circulated online.
According to a statement from the DCI, Maiyo was detained for allegedly posting a TikTok video that incited the public against police officers. While the specific video in question was not identified by the authorities, a recent four-minute clip on Maiyo’s TikTok page shows him addressing the DCI directly, urging officers to cease abductions of unarmed Kenyans and to resist being used by higher powers. In the video, he appeals to the officers to consider their own families when carrying out such actions.
Maiyo’s lawyer has called for all charges to be dropped, arguing that his client’s content constitutes protected speech and that the arrest is part of a broader crackdown on digital dissent. This incident follows a series of arrests targeting activists and social media users who have criticized the government, raising concerns about freedom of expression in Kenya.
As of now, Maiyo awaits further legal proceedings, with his legal team preparing to challenge the charges in court.
