Kenyan Court Orders Detention of WhatsApp Group Admin for Distributing Hate Messages

A Malindi Court on Wednesday ordered police to detain a WhatsApp group administrator who is facing charges of sharing hate messages that could threaten national security.

The court ruled that the admin be detained for a period of five days to allow police officers complete investigation.

Resident Magistrate Yvone Khatambi ruled that Japheth Mulewa be detained after allegedly sharing messages that threatened violence against certain community members in Malindi.

Police Constable James Muyes in a sworn affidavit said that Mulewa was arrested in Malindi on Tuesday following reports that he was distributing hate messages via WhatsApp group, where he is an admin.

“The written material distributed through the WhatsApp groups would cause panic to the members of the public during this electioneering period,” said the detective.

Muyes requested for more time to retrieve information from a mobile phone that Mulewa used to forward the hate messages.

Muyes said the “accused is also in wanted list by detectives in Mombasa over a similar offence.”

Prosecution Counsel Alice Mathangani argued against releasing the respondent on bond for fears he would escape and was facing a serious offense under the National Cohesion and Integration (NCIC) Act.