Benson Ashiko, accused of circulating a viral post that falsely depicted President William Ruto’s funeral, has been detained for four days as authorities finalize their investigations.
Ashiko was arrested in Bungoma on January 24th and later transferred to the Muthaiga Police Station in Nairobi.
During a Monday hearing at the Milimani Law Courts, Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi ordered Ashiko's detention until January 30th. He may then be released on Ksh's cash bail. 5,000 or a bond of Ksh. 50,000.
Court records reveal that Ashiko is facing charges under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act for publishing false information.
The police had initially requested a 14-day detention to analyze Ashiko's electronic devices and complete their probe.
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The controversial post, which went viral on social media, allegedly contained a fabricated condolence message addressed to the First Family. Authorities have deemed the content malicious and misleading.
Public opinion on the case remains divided. While some advocate for upholding freedom of expression, others support the arrest, stressing the importance of curbing the spread of misinformation online.
