Renown activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi has expressed doubt in the recent arrest and charging of renown X influencer Francis Gaitho.
Gaitho was arrested and arraigned in court on July 18, 2024 where he was charged with false publications and cyber harassments, under the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
The Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) accused Gaitho of publishing the false information on social media on July 15, 2024 at around 2pm with the intention that it would be perceived authentic.
He is also faced charges of publishing false information about one Jairus Onkundi Morwabe, “causing him apprehension or fear of violence, as well as potential damage or loss to his property.”
Gaitho was released on a Kshs30,000 bail with the mention of the case scheduled for August 1.
Mwangi, in a tweet, said that he believed that Gaitho is working as a government’s agent.
“I firmly believe@FGaitho237 works for the government of Kenya as a misinformation agent. Everything he says, and does is against the struggle to make Kenya better. His recent arrest was choreographed to make him look like he isn’t a double agent. Gaitho is a traitor and a snitch,” the activist said.
In his response, Gaitho however noted that he has nothing to hide. He went on to accuse Mwangi of being paid to mobilize protestors to leave Nairobi CBD on June 25, when there was an invasion in Parliament.
“So@bonifacemwangi blocks me, then impugnes me because I cannot defend myself on his comment section, and then still declines to respond to the critical question of who paid him to mobilize protestors to leave CBD on June 25th.
“Myself I have nothing to hide. He’s not blocked from my end. He’s been resorting to insults, body-shaming over the last 4 weeks ever since I raised the matter,” he said.
So @bonifacemwangi blocks me, then impugnes me because I cannot defend myself on his comment section, and then still declines to respond to the critical question of who paid him to mobilize protestors to leave CBD on June 25th.
Myself I have nothing to hide. He’s not blocked… pic.twitter.com/tVcHV41hhg
— Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) July 20, 2024