Man in court for sharing photos of ‘slain’ KDF soldiers on WhatsApp
A man has been arraigned before a court charged with sharing via WhatsApp pictures of Kenya Defence Force soldiers who were allegedly killed during an attack on by Al-Shaabab terrorists in Somalia last Friday.
Mr Eddy Reuben Illah denied posting the images on a WhatsApp group using his mobile phone before Kiambu Principal Magistrate Mr Justus Kituku.
Mr Illah was charged that “on January 16, at an unknown place within republic of Kenya, using a registered mobile number, distributed under WhatsApp group ‘Youth People’s Union’, pictures of allegedly dead Kenya Defence Force officers who were said to have been attacked and killed at El Adde in Somalia”.
GROSSLY OFFENSIVE
The charge further said that he did so knowing that the pictures were “grossly offensive and with an intent to cause needless anxiety to the family members of the officers and Kenyans in general”.
The offence is against Section 29 (a) of the Kenya Information and communication Act Cap 411 a laws of Kenya whereby he used a licensed telecommunication gadget.
Efforts by his lawyer Mr Edwin Sifuna to have him released on a free bond on the basis that the offense was not serious and does not attract a punitive punishment were futile.
Mr Sifuna had argued that the offence could only attract a fine not exceeding Sh50, 000 or an alternative of a three months jail term and therefore should not be remanded.
SERIOUS OFFENCE
The lawyer said the charges were meant to harass the accused, an application that was rejected by the prosecution on basis that the matter was a serious offence.
The magistrate, in a ruling, rejected the application by lawyer Sifuna and ordered that he be released on a Sh100,000 surety bond or a Sh50, 000 cash bail.
