A university student was charged on Monday November 19,2024 at the Milimani Law Courts with publishing false information after he allegedly shared a misleading image on social media that suggested President William Ruto had passed away.
The image, which depicted a funeral procession with a casket draped in the Kenyan flag and escorted by military officers, was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by David Oaga Mokaya, a student at a local university.
According to the charge sheet, Mokaya, who operates the social media account “Landlord @bozgabi,” posted the image on November 13, 2024, along with a caption that implied the funeral procession was for President Ruto, suggesting that the head of state had died.
It is alleged that Mokaya deliberately fabricated the date on the post to make it appear current and authentic, causing panic and confusion among the public.
The incident was reported to the authorities, and investigations revealed that the image was not related to the president, but rather was an old image taken from an unrelated event.
However, the misleading post quickly gained traction online, sparking widespread speculation and concern, particularly among social media users who believed the post was genuine.
Mokaya was charged under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, which criminalizes the publication of false information that is likely to cause harm or induce fear.
The charge also includes a specific provision that prohibits the spreading of false information about the health or death of public figures, especially those in positions of power, as such actions can destabilize public trust and security.
When the case was placed before Senior Principal Magistrate Benmark Ekhumbi, Mokaya pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court granted the accused a bond of KSh 100,000 with an alternative cash bail of KSh 50,000.
The defense did not request a reduction in bail a request that was declined, and the magistrate set the next mention for December 4, 2024, for further directions.
