The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has petitioned the Milimani Law Courts for permission to confiscate and analyze the mobile phones of Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah and 22 other individuals arrested during anti-abduction protests in Nairobi.
The request, filed on Tuesday, December 31, seeks to extract WhatsApp messages, photos, and other social media data to investigate allegations of incitement against the state.
According to the DCI, the suspects allegedly used digital platforms to incite public disobedience and mobilize protests against recent abductions.
The demonstrations, held on December 30 in Nairobi and other regions, were sparked by reports of seven mysterious abductions, including cases involving individuals from Machakos, Nairobi, Embu, and Kiambu counties.
The protests saw widespread condemnation of the state’s silence and a demand for accountability.
Prosecutors have also asked the court to allow a 14-day detention of Omtatah and the co-accused, citing ongoing investigations.
Prosecutors have also asked the court to allow a 14-day detention of Omtatah and the co-accused, citing ongoing investigations.
The DCI argued that releasing the suspects could disrupt national peace and interfere with critical evidence gathering, including witness statements and CCTV footage from the protest locations.
“The respondents, if released, may incite further unrest, posing a threat to the country’s stability,” the DCI stated in court documents.
Civil society and political leaders have criticized the arrests as an infringement on democratic freedoms. Leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa condemned the government’s heavy-handed approach, urging respect for constitutional rights.
Omtatah’s arrest has galvanized public support, with many following his legal proceedings closely. Rights groups have decried what they term an "escalation of authoritarian tendencies" by state agencies.
“The respondents, if released, may incite further unrest, posing a threat to the country’s stability,” the DCI stated in court documents.
Civil society and political leaders have criticized the arrests as an infringement on democratic freedoms. Leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa condemned the government’s heavy-handed approach, urging respect for constitutional rights.
Omtatah’s arrest has galvanized public support, with many following his legal proceedings closely. Rights groups have decried what they term an "escalation of authoritarian tendencies" by state agencies.
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