Controversial blogger Robert Alai will spend the weekend in police cells awaiting charges on Monday after publishing alleged false news on the situation of coronavirus in Kenya. Head of investigations bureau at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations John Kariuki said Alai will be charged with publishing fake news in contravention of the Cybercrime Act. Alai had allegedly tweeted that two people died in of Coronavirus in Mombasa but pulled down the tweet after he was summoned by the DCI. Health CS Mutahi Kangwe on Thursday warned that the government will start arresting purveyors of fake news spreading falsehoods about the deadly disease. Kariuki said Alai’s false publication is a case of public interest because of the possibility of causing public scare.

Source: Daily Nation March 20, 2020 14:37 UTC