Political activist Morara Kebaso has been released on a cash bail of Sh50,000 while awaiting a court’s decision regarding charges of cyber harassment brought against him by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina of the Milimani Law Courts granted the bail after Kebaso’s legal team, led by senior counsel Martha Karua, argued that the charges were defective and should be dismissed.
Kebaso, also known as Morara Kebaso Snr, is accused of violating Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018 by allegedly posting false information about businessman David Langat. on his X account.
The ODPP claims that this post was intended to tarnish the reputation of Langat , whose name has been listed in the charge sheet as the complainant
In the contested post, Kebaso suggested that one individual sought financial assistance from another, who then leveraged his properties to secure loans.
Kebaso’s statements further implied that the individual who requested help was taking advantage of the situation to undervalue the properties and acquire them at a lower price, leading to serious financial distress for the other party.
Kebaso’s lawyers contested the clarity of the charge sheet, arguing that it fails to specify which individual is the complainant and lacks sufficient information for the accused to respond meaningfully.
Lawyer Willis Otieno emphasized that the issues raised pertain more to defamation, a matter that should be resolved in civil court rather than through criminal charges.
As support for Kebaso grew, a group of youths, activists, and political leaders rallied outside the court, demanding his release.
This demonstration underscored the political tensions surrounding the case, with many seeing it as an attempt to silence dissenting voices in the activist community.
The court will reconvene on October 4, when Chief Magistrate Onyina is expected to deliver a ruling on whether the charges against Kebaso will proceed. Until then, the activist remains out on bail, continuing to garner support from his community and allies in the political landscape.
