Nairobi, Kenya — A Milimani court has issued a warrant of arrest for social media influencer Francis Gaitho after he failed to appear in court for the mention of his case.
Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki granted the prosecution’s request for the warrant on July 30, 2025, citing Gaitho’s continued absence from court proceedings.
“The court allows the application. A warrant of arrest is hereby issued,” Magistrate Ondieki ruled.
The case, which has now been adjourned to July 14, 2025, stems from charges Gaitho faces over the publication of false information on social media.
Gaitho was first arrested in July 2024, in the aftermath of the Gen Z protests, which were marked by public unrest across the country.
The influencer is accused of making false claims via his X (formerly Twitter) account, alleging that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had arrested the wrong suspect in the widely publicized Kware murders.
The Kware murders case involved the recovery of multiple bodies of women in Kware, Nairobi, prompting national outrage.
Police had arrested Collins Jumaisi as the prime suspect, claiming he had confessed to the killings. However, Jumaisi later escaped from Gigiri Police Station and remains at large.
According to the charge sheet, on July 15, 2024, at around 2:00 p.m., Gaitho published statements intended to appear factual, which prosecutors argue could have misled the public and obstructed justice.
He also faces a second count of publishing false information that implicated an innocent person, with the prosecution stating that Gaitho knew, or ought to have known, that the post could expose the individual to harm or loss.
Gaitho previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh30,000.
His repeated failure to attend court has now prompted legal action to compel his appearance.
The case is scheduled to proceed on July 14, though it remains to be seen whether Gaitho will be produced in court under the warrant.
By Were Kelly
