By Andrew Kariuki

A woman accused of making inflammatory remarks in a video that circulated widely on social media has been arraigned before the Kahawa Law Courts and charged with an offence under Kenya’s cohesion laws.

Sahara Ahmed Barre appeared before the court on Thursday, where prosecutors charged her with ethnic contempt contrary to Section 62(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act.

The charge stems from remarks allegedly captured in a video clip that gained significant attention online and prompted investigations by detectives.

Barre denied the allegations when the charge was read to her and pleaded not guilty.

The court subsequently released her on a cash bail of Ksh200,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh1 million with a surety of a similar amount pending the hearing of the case.

The matter is scheduled to be mentioned on June 22, 2026, for further directions.

The prosecution alleges that the statements contained in the viral video were capable of promoting ethnic contempt, an offence prohibited under Kenya’s laws aimed at safeguarding national unity and peaceful coexistence among communities.

The case comes amid continued scrutiny of online content by authorities, particularly statements deemed capable of inciting hostility, hatred or division along ethnic lines.

Investigators have maintained that social media users must exercise caution when publishing or sharing content, warning that individuals found to have violated provisions of the law may face criminal prosecution.