A Kenyan lawyer and activist has appeared in court over alleged cyber harassment, a day after his dramatic arrest in the capital Nairobi, sparking public anger.
David Morara Kebaso has gained a large following on social media for his posts on alleged corruption and the misuse of public funds through fictitious or stalled projects.
The 28-year-old was arrested on Monday evening by masked police, who seized his phones and laptop before chasing him away, local media reported.
He is accused by the public prosecutor of tarnishing the reputation of businessman David Langat, in an X-post that also mentioned President William Ruto.
His arrest comes nearly three months after youth-led anti-government demonstrations against controversial proposed tax increases that turned deadly.
More than 50 people were killed and dozens of others reported missing in the June protests that forced President Ruto to abandon tax law and dismiss almost his entire cabinet.
Mr. Kebaso, who describes himself on social media as “courageous and fearless,” has upended government officials in recent months with his nationwide campaign documenting stalled government projects and demanding accountability for wasted public funds.
He does this by recording short videos and sharing them on social media, which provokes sharp reactions.
His online activism has attracted more than 200,000 followers to his X account, and some money has been raised to support his activities.
He was picked up by police from his office in Kahawa Sukari area, on the outskirts of Nairobi, and spent a night in a cell before appearing in court on Tuesday.
Several activists and lawyers who rushed to Nairobi Regional Police headquarters to see him said they were denied access to Mr Kebaso and then tear-gassed.
The hashtag #FreeMoraraKebaso has been trending on social media since last night as Kenyans online called for his release.
The public prosecutor filed a cyber-harassment charge against Mr. Kebaso for allegedly posting false information about Mr. Langat on social media.
However, the activist failed to plead to the charges after his lawyers dismissed it as flawed.
His lawyers said the suit constituted a civil claim for damages as the complainant alleged defamation and not cyber harassment.
But the prosecution resisted this argument and said the charges were fine.
In its ruling, the court released Mr Kebaso on cash bail pending a decision on the legality of the charge sheet.
There were dozens of protesters outside the court and a heavy police presence was noted in the city, while activists threatened to mobilize large protests demanding his release.
Amnesty International has labeled Mr Kebaso’s arrest as a ‘Stark abuse of the criminal justice system’ and called for his unconditional release.
The father-of-two has complained in the past about threats and being followed by vehicles with unknown number plates.
“If I worry too much, I can’t continue my work,” he noted.
“What I do is extremely risky. I have had incidents where my phone has been tracked and vehicles with untraceable license plates have been seen near my home.”
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