The Ministry of Interior has launched a probe over the use of extreme violence and harassment against bloggers and incitement to violence against political opponents in 19 counties across the country.
This even as Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki said some people may want to use security officials to suppress opinions and harass people who may hold alternative political opinions.
Yesterday, Kindiki disclosed that his ministry had received many cases across the country of complaints by bloggers and people in cyberspace of threats for expressing political or other views in cyberspace.
In addition, he said the national government had set up a special unit within the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to handle such threats and criminal activities being perpetuated against bloggers.
The unit will also handle cases of people who exercise their freedom of expression through cyberspace and get intimidated or harassed or punished for it.
Monitoring content
Responding to questions before the Senate plenary, the Interior boss explained that the unit is monitoring content that could be hateful or incite violence and at the same time. “We have active investigations as we speak in 19 counties of leaders and other influencers who have organized teams of online people to harass, intimidate and incite violence using cyberspace,” Kindiki told the Senators.
He said that unit established within DCI is also responsible for protecting the freedom of expression through cyberspace to ensure that bloggers and other people who express themselves do not attract criminal responses.
Kindiki said they are investigating groups of both physical and online gangs that are propagating violence in the name of freedom of expression, adding that action will be taken on all the actors whether they are persuaded to support the government or they are in the opposition.
“We have to deal with this problem before it goes overboard. The idea of organizing groups of criminals to attack opponents or people of divergent opinions online and propagate violence must be dealt with. I want to assure the country that the idea of setting up criminal gangs or groups either to physically attack people for political or other reasons will end,” said Kindiki.
Kindiki’s assurance comes after the mysterious death of a 32-year-old blogger Duke Nyabaro in Kisii County last month. The blogger commented on political issues, especially those affecting Bonchari Constituency in the county.
