Blogger Robert Alai was on Wednesday charged in a Kiambu court with undermining President Uhuru Kenyatta in a post on Twitter.
Mr
Alai was freed on bond and warned by the magistrate not post on
Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any other publication any content that is
similar to the subject before the court.
Mr Alai, who
was arrested on Monday, denied the charge read out to him by Principal
Magistrate Diana Mochache and was freed on a bond of Sh300,000 with an
alternative of a Sh200,000 cash bail.
The blogger was charged with undermining the authority of a public officer contrary to Section 132 of the Penal Code. The
charge stated that on December 13, he posted the comment on his Twitter
account which was circulated with the aim of bringing into contempt the
lawful authority of the President of the Republic of Kenya.
His
lawyers, led by Siaya Senator James Orengo, successfully opposed an
application by the state to deny bail to the accused until the case is
heard and determined.
The State counsel had in an affidavit alleged that Mr Alai is likely to repeat the same offence if released on bond.
The
prosecution also said that investigations were still under way and it
was likely that more charges would be filed against Mr Alai. Ms
Mochache ruled that the case is sensitive because it involves the
President but faulted the prosecution for failing to adduce satisfactory
grounds for seeking to remand the accused.
She said
the State counsel had failed to explain how Mr Alai would continue
making such posts and disclose what other charges he is likely to face.
The case will be heard on February 16 next year.
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