Cyprian Nyakundi charged with defaming Anne Waiguru, Mike Sonko

Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi was on Friday charged before a Kiambu court with posting online derogatory remarks against Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Nairobi's Mike Sonko and Kenya Power Managing Director Ken Tarus.

Mr Nyakundi was also charged with posting hate speech content against the Kikuyu community on social media. 

BAIL

He denied the accusations and was freed on Sh2 million bond with an alternative of a Sh1 million cash bail for the hate speech charge.

For the other three charges, he was freed on Sh200,000 bond with an alternative of Sh100,000 cash bail for each.

In Mr Sonko’s case, the blogger has been charged that on April 1, 2018, at unknown places, he wrote on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, obscene material about the governor that could deprave and corrupt the public against him.

The governor, who the charge sheet names as the complainant, has been listed among the witnesses who will testify.

In Ms Waiguru’s case, Mr Nyakundi is accused of publishing obscene information regarding the governor on April 16 and that words he used were meant to deprave and corrupt the public against her.

Ms Waiguru has been listed as the complaint and also one of the witnesses who will take to the dock to give evidence against the blogger who was arrested early this week and booked at Muthaiga Police Station.

In the case filed by Mr Tarus, Mr Nyakundi is accused of peddling rumours against the Kenya Power top chief online.

The post, the police said was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public, yet he knew that the information he posted was false.

The charge sheet read in part, “….without lawful excuse published a false rumour to wit, Kenya Power is being looted by Jubilee through Ken Tarus who got a job as the Managing Director (MD) with fake papers, this country is led by criminals".