A university student, David Oaga Mokaya, was on Monday arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts for allegedly publishing false information on his social media account. Mokaya, who operates the X account “Landlord @bozgabi,” was charged with sharing a misleading image depicting a funeral procession featuring a casket draped with the Kenyan flag and escorted by military officers in ceremonial attire.
The prosecution told the court that Mokaya captioned the image to suggest that it showed the body of President William Ruto being transported. It is alleged that he manipulated the date on the post to create the impression of an authentic and current event.
The offence is said to have been committed on November 13, 2024, at an undisclosed location within Kenya. Authorities argue that the post was intended to spread false information, which could potentially incite public panic and unrest.
Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi, Mokaya pleaded not guilty to the charges. The magistrate granted him a bond of KSh 100,000 or an alternative cash bail of KSh 50,000.
The case is set for mention on December 4, 2024, as investigations continue. The charge highlights the increasing scrutiny of online content and the government’s efforts to curb the spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
If found guilty, Mokaya could face significant legal penalties under the laws governing the publication of false information in Kenya.
