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Blogger charged with insulting Kidero faces 20 years in jail
Bonface Omondi Nyangla at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on April 28, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Mr Nyangla allegedly published the insults on his Facebook account under the name “Omondi Nyangla”.
- The accused said the police violated his constitutional rights by allegedly holding him incommunicado.
A blogger charged with insulting former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero on social media faces up to 20 years in prison, with an alternative fine of Sh10 million, upon conviction.
Bonface Omondi Nyangla, who was informed of the harsh penalty by Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego, applied to be released on lenient bond terms after being charged with cyber harassment.
Begging for a reasonable bail term, Mr Nyangla argued that the police violated his constitutional rights by allegedly holding him incommunicado since April 24, 2025.
The accused, who is an employee of Kenya National Trade Corporation (KNTC), where Dr Kidero currently chairs the board, was produced in court on Monday.
“I wish to register my complaint at the first instance before this court that police breached my fundamental and constitutional rights for holding me incommunicado and without arraigning me in court for five days,” said Mr Nyangla.
The accused entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of cyber harassment contrary to Section 27(1)(b), as read together with Section 27(2) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018.
Mr Nyangla is alleged to have insulted Dr Kidero in Dholuo language on social media April 20, 2025 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya.
State prosecutor Hillary Isiaho told the court that Mr Nyangla published the said insults on his Facebook account under the name “Omondi Nyangla”.
Mr Isiaho said the words published in the Dholuo were grossly offensive and detrimentally affected the reputation of Dr Kidero and were meant to injure the character and reputation of the former governor.
However, narrating his ordeal, Mr Nyangla said when he was locked up behind bars on April 24, 2025, the Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers took away his mobile phone and locked him up at Kamukunji Police Station.
The police then refused to grant him access to a cell phone for him to call his wife and children who had travelled upcountry for the Easter Holidays.
Mr Nyangla said his family only learnt of his arrest and detention after a fellow cell mate helped to reach out to a former MCA who relayed the information.
The accused pleaded with the magistrate to set him free so that he can take his children back to school.
In her ruling, Ms Alego ordered the accused to deposit a bond of Sh1 million with one surety of similar amount with an alternative cash bail of Sh400,000.
In addition, the magistrate called for a pre-bail report which will enable her to review her bail terms. The case will be mentioned on May 6, 2025 for further directions.