Two arrested for posting false information about CS Matiangi on social media

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations on Saturday, July 25, arrested two suspects believed to be behind authoring and publishing false information about Interior CS Fred Matiangi on Facebook.

33-year-old freelance journalist Isaac Kibet Yego and 19-year-old Emanuel Kimutai Kosgei were arrested in Ngeria area, Uasin Gishu County, after claiming that CS Matiangi had tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The DCI says a laptop and two mobile phones used in publishing and disseminating the information were confiscated during the arrest.

DCI also condemned the crime and warned Kenyans that those found committing the same offense would be punished for going against the law as provided under the Communication Act.

“It is extremely callous for one detached from sense of humanity to cause calculated, choreographed, planned, coordinated, conspired panic, apprehension, shock, devastation etc that may have far reaching consequences not limited to sudden risks to life,” said the DCI.

During an interview at his Harambee House office on Friday, July 24, CS Matiangi dismissed the claims that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

He stated that due to the level of their exposure, he took three tests, which all came negative.

“If I was sick of COVID-19, I will be the first to go public with it because there is nothing to hide. I have been tested three times because our level of exposure is high because of high interactions.

“I am not made of metal; neither are my colleagues. We are human beings who get sick all the time because we are not heavenly. We go to hospital all the time…” he said.

The Interior CS, however, claimed that the malicious rumors caused distress in his family and urged the DCI to take action.

“I feel for my family. My innocent wife and children who have their own lives to live but they have to endure this kind of rumours. They are private citizens who have to pay a heavy price because one of them is in public service.

“I have told the DCI and the Inspector General of Police and they are trying to investigate. We hope that we shall get to the bottom of the situation,” he stated.