Standard journalist Collins Kweyu detained, released over text to judge

Standard Group journalist Collins Kweyu was arrested and detained at Central Police Station in Nairobi over an inquiry text he sent to a judge of the High Court.

Kweyu explained he had sent a text to a judge over claims made by another party to enable him to do a story on the same when he was arrested.

The judge is said to have taken offence about the text and reported the matter to the police in Migori’s Kehancha police station.

According to Kweyu, a complainant had approached him and made claims about the judge.

“After I listened to the claims, the complainant who had the contact of the judge gave it to me and I sent a text to him asking if the claims were true. The judge even responded saying he is a saved man and doesn’t do what I had asked. I was shocked to be arrested and framed,” he said.

He added he was out to have a balanced story on the claims.

Police said Kweyu was apprehended by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based in Migori who are handling the matter.

The team moved to court and obtained a warrant to search documents and mobile phones belonging to Kweyu and his co accused Benson Lengolenyang alias Ben Limo and one Martin Njoroge.

The investigators told a magistrate in Migori that they are investigating a case of cyber harassment and identity theft contrary to Sections 27 and 29 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.

They added a search warrant is necessary to recover the items needed for use as evidence before the court and that it was in the interest of justice that the orders sought be granted to ensure the successful conclusion of investigations and prosecution of the offenders.

The magistrate issued the search warrant authorizing police officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Migori, to enter, search and seize, the persons of the suspects through body searches, residential premises, motor vehicles, buildings, workplaces, or any other places where the suspects reside or operate from and recover electronic devices including mobile phones, SIM cards, computers, laptops, and any other materials connected to the offences under investigation.

“That the seized items be brought before this Honourable Court and retained in safe custody to aid in the ongoing investigations.”

The officers duped him to a meeting before they arrested him at a restaurant near 680 Hotel.

They also arrested the other two persons who happen to have been the ones who brought the earlier claims about the judge. They were arrested in Kasarani area.

According to police at Central Police Station, they cannot release him on bail since it is the Migori DCI officers who carried out the arrest, and they intended to transfer him to Migori, where the complainant is based.

Kweyu, however, maintains that he was deceived into the arrest.

He explained that he received a call inviting him for a meeting at the restaurant in Nairobi, only to be confronted and taken away by officers.

Kweyu insists he was not informed of the reasons for his arrest.

His lawyers said they were working to have him released even as the matter remains under investigations.