Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi arrested over coronavirus post

Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi was Tuesday arrested over a post he made on social media on the coronavirus disease.

Nyakundi was summoned and locked up at Central Police station over the post ahead of possible arraignment.

I have been summoned by @DCI_Kenya and as a law abiding citizen I’ll precent myself to Central Police Station today at 3 PM. @ODPP_KE @RobertAlai @ItsMutai pic.twitter.com/ClLoCm2kxu

— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@CisNyakundi) March 24, 2020

Last week, blogger Robert Alai was arrested and later arraigned over a fake post he had made. He was freed on Sh50,000 bail and blocked from making or tweeting posts on the coronavirus.

Police have heightened operations on social media posts as a way of taming misinformation.

This came as the Judiciary directed all its staff to work from home in an effort to protect them and the entire justice fraternity from the coronavirus.

Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi said the Judiciary has prioritized safety and health after reviewing a recent statement Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on the seriousness of the pandemic.

She directed court stations to notify the public of the directive, provide telephone and email contact details to facilitate urgent matters which cannot wait, ensure public inquiries are responded to promptly and embrace Electronic Case Management Directions 2020 where practicable.

“We have been providing minimal essential services across our court stations to ensure access to justice is not completely disrupted. However, concerns have been raised by our staff regarding their safety as they attend to wananchi,” said Ms. Amadi.

“We have taken these concerns into consideration, and having reviewed the press statement issued on March 22, 2020, by the Cabinet Secretary for Health on the seriousness of the pandemic and upon consultation with the Chief Justice, it is our view that the health and safety of the entire Judiciary family must be prioritized.”

Ms. Amadi explained that the leadership of the Judiciary continues to monitor unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19 and its impact on the administration of justice.