Written by Joyce Nzomo
A Kitui blogger and activist, Kitovoto Mutinda, was on Tuesday arraigned before Senior
Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego at the Milimani Law Courts, where he was charged
with nine counts of publishing false information targeting Mwingi Central MP Gideon
Mulyungi, contrary to Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed on 9th August
2024 at different times and on various WhatsApp platforms.
Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 stated that through a write -up account Kinuko 96.5 FM, Mutinda
allegedly published on the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp group at 15:56 hours, the
Kitui DG Platform WhatsApp group at 16:50 hours, the United People of Mwingi
WhatsApp group at 16:52 hours, and again on the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp
group at 16:54 hours, a message that read;
“MP Mulyungi secret millions: the truth behind Kitui tender scandal: why Kitui MCAs are
ignoring their own corruption.”
Counts 5, 6, 7 and 8 stated that through a Kinuko 96.5 FM write-up account, Mutinda
allegedly published on the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp group at 16:56 hours, the
United People of Mwingi WhatsApp group at 16:58 hours, the Kitui DG Platform
WhatsApp group at 17:00 hours, the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp group at 17:02
hours, and the United People of Mwingi WhatsApp group at 17:04 hours, a message
that read;
“The 26 million question: where did Kitui’s public fund really go? A house of cards: the
illegal tender that could bring down Kitui’s assembly … he labelled Mulyungi as enemy
to development.”
Count 9 stated that on 8 th September 2024 at 16:47 hours, Mutinda allegedly published
on the Kitui Leaders Council WhatsApp group another post that read;
“Mulyungi was bribed and he don’t know what to say, he is lacking a word to mention
camel herders who bribed him, he is between the rock and a hard surface… camels
must leave.”
Mutinda pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
His lawyer Counsel Wambua pleaded for lenient bail terms, arguing that all the counts
carried similar particulars, with the only variation being the WhatsApp platforms used to
share the posts.
The prosecution did not oppose bail but urged the court to consider the number of
charges filed against the accused.
Magistrate Alego granted Mutinda a bond of Kshs 300,000 with one surety or a cash
bail of Kshs 150,000 with one contact person. The case will be mentioned on 2nd
September 2025.
