A Milimani court has summoned the investigating officer in the cybercrime case against social media influencer Francis Gaitho, who is facing charges of publishing false information on X (formerly Twitter).
Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi issued the summons on Monday during a mention of the case, directing the officer to appear in court as part of efforts to advance the proceedings. The matter has been adjourned to August 12, 2025.
The summons comes in the wake of a warrant of arrest issued on June 30, 2025, by Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki after prosecutors claimed Gaitho had repeatedly failed to attend court sessions without explanation.
“The court allows the application. A warrant of arrest is hereby issued,” ruled Magistrate Ondieki at the time.
Gaitho was initially arrested in July 2024 during the height of the Gen Z protests and is accused of posting misleading information regarding the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and its handling of the infamous Kware murders case. The case involved the discovery of multiple bodies of women in Nairobi’s Kware area.
According to the charge sheet, Gaitho claimed that the DCI had arrested the wrong suspect in the killings, a post prosecutors argue was presented as fact and had the potential to mislead the public and obstruct justice. The suspect in question, Collins Jumaisi, allegedly confessed to the murders but later escaped from Gigiri Police Station and remains at large.
Gaitho is also facing a second count of publishing false information that allegedly exposed an innocent person to danger.
He has denied all charges and was previously released on a Sh30,000 cash bail. However, his failure to attend subsequent court sessions has triggered fresh legal measures aimed at ensuring his presence in court.
The case remains under active investigation and scrutiny as it tests the boundaries of digital expression and criminal liability in the age of social media.
By Were Kelly
