Livestream, hashtags… How social networks diluted the arrest of Morara Kebaso

Kebaso was apprehended Monday at his Kahawa Sukari offices under unclear circumstances by agents claiming to be following “orders from above.”

He was loaded into a Subaru Forester and then taken to the regional police headquarters in Nairobi before being transferred to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters in Kiambu.

In an unprecedented development, which appears to have thwarted police discretion, the entire drama was broadcast live by people believed to be Kebaso supporters.

By night, a hashtag #FreeMoraraKebaso had already started gaining prominence on X and TikTok as the Subaru driven at breakneck speeds was chased by the streaming team.

Minutes later, Kebaso was taken to the DCI offices and a number of citizens had already gathered outside the premises as several live feeds were broadcast.

In one of the TikTok live streams that had attracted over 8,000 viewers, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah was speaking outside the DCI headquarters in Kiambu, vowing that they would not leave the premises until Kebaso would not have been confirmed as safe.

“He is being detained illegally and this is just another kidnapping. There is no reason why Morara cannot be taken to a police station and placed in an OB,” Omtatah said.

“Due to what is happening in this country, we have declared that today we are not going to sleep, we will remain vigilant outside the DCI until we are informed of where there is this man.”

Subsequent comments on various channels and

NARC-Kenya leader Martha Karua appeared at Kebaso’s hearing on Tuesday as lead counsel, alongside a team of more than 10 lawyers.

He was charged with cyberstalking under Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2018 and released on cash bail of Ksh50,000.

The accusation was linked to a message he published on his X account on September 28, described as false information and intended to tarnish David Langat’s reputation.

In his post, Kebaso wrote: “William Ruto contacted DL Langat and told him that he desperately needed more money for his campaign. DL Langat used his properties as collateral and took out large loans to help his friend Right now DL Langat is being auctioned off by the banks and The person buying the properties is William Ruto To make matters worse, William Ruto used his power to undervalue the properties in order to buy them at a price. inferior. That’s the kind of person we’re dealing with.

As all this ensued, Morara supporters and angry members of the public were camped outside the court buildings and live streams were still active.

Shortly after his release, Kebaso asked his supporters to march to the CBD and the crowd marched singing jubilant chants and anti-government chants.

Some of his supporters even accompanied the activist to his offices in Kahawa Sukari, where Kebaso recounted his 24-hour ordeal with his captors, all of which was shared simultaneously on social media.

“Asanteni sana. I learned a lesson of love and passion. Kenya will change. I believe in it,” Kebaso said on X.