MP John Kiarie freed after admitting social media post not factual, to offer apology

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 29 Nov, 2021 20:53 | 2 mins read
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie. PHOTO | FILE
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie. PHOTO | FILE

The Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie has been released after being grilled by detectives over his social media post on the number of people quarantined by the national government over coronavirus pandemic.

The MP, who is popularly known as KJ, said he is remorseful and acknowledged that what he posted was not factual.

Police officers who grilled him said that he was humble and did not argue about his post, admitting that it was the wrong platform to share his personal sentiments.

KJ was released before the curfew deadline at 7 pm and since he was with his entourage, he was allowed to go home early to avoid getting in more trouble for violating the nightly lockdown.

The MP said he would clarify and apologise for the post.

The Dagoretti MP came under harsh criticism for claiming that over 7,000 people were quarantined by the government, a figure the Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said was overly exaggerated.

CS Kagwe said that only 2,050 people are under quarantine in 14 government hotels and facilities across the country.

The MP had earlier presented himself to the Kabete Police Station after he was summoned by detectives for his alarming post.

During his Sunday briefing, Kagwe blasted the MP even though he did not mention him by name.

The CS accused the Jubilee MP of seeking to gain cheap political mileage by overly exaggerating figures about quarantined people.

So far, 42 people in Kenyan have tested positive for coronavirus.

Blogger Alai

Compared to the punishment meted on controversial blogger Robert Alai for publishing false information relating to the coronavirus pandemic in Kenya, MP Kiarie walked with a slap on the wrist.

Alai was not only gagged from commenting or publishing on his Twitter and Facebook accounts but also charged.

Mr. Alai was charged on Monday, March 23, and released on bail pending the hearing and determination of his case.

The blogger had accused the government of not being forthright in its coronavirus updates in post published on March 19.

The prosecution contended that Alai's post was intended to sow panic among Kenyans.