Blogger Alai Twitter account suspended
Controversial blogger Robert Alai’s Twitter account has been suspended a day after he was charged with undermining President Uhuru Kenyatta.
A search of his handle (@RobertAlai) returns the message: “Account suspended: The profile you are trying to view has been suspended. To return to your home timeline, click here.”
Alai was arraigned before a Kiambu court on Wednesday over allegations of calling Mr Kenyatta an “adolescent president”.
He was also accused of sharing personal phone numbers belonging to the head of state and those of his senior aides.
By doing so, Alai flouted Twitter’s policy, which states: ” Posting another person’s private and confidential information is a violation of the Twitter Rules. Some examples of private and confidential information include: non-public, personal phone numbers.”
To expedite the appeal process, users are required to confirm that they have “changed the account behaviours that are in violation of the Twitter Rules, or that you have removed all prohibited automation from your account”.
But getting the account, which has more than 140,000 followers, reinstated could be a tall order.
Another link describing Twitter’s private-information policy adds: “If the private information you’re reporting is not your own, please note that you must have documentation that you’re authorized to act on behalf of the person whose confidential information is posted.”
The blogger has since opened a new account @RobertAlai_ , which had gained more than 5,000 followers by 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“I will Never be Silenced! I have more than 100 Twitter Accounts. We can play this game till Kingdom Come! #VoiceToTheVoiceless #AlaiLivesOn,” tweeted Alai.