Controversial Kenyan blogger, Robert Alai arrested in Nairobi a day after police warning over his publishing of explicit content.
Warning
The police have forewarned the blogger against publishing photos of terror victims on social media.
An order Alai has gone against retweeting:
The issue here is not about
@RobertAlai posting those photos, for me it’s about the risks we’re putting our officers in terror prone zonesWe spent millions on armored cars which turns out to be substandard given how they’re always blown up.
This is the real issue wacheni games.
Charles Owino´s argument is that if any of the officers´ family members are to come across such photos, it will be traumatizing for them.
.@NPSOfficial_KE Spokesman address to the press. https://t.co/aF3D8phNeQ
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) June 17, 2019
On Monday, the National Commission on Integration Commission (NCIC) condemned Alai´s actions, accusing him of glorifying terrorism.
Whereas Mr Alai has the freedom of expression,
such publications can be interpreted as propaganda for war which is not protected under the Constitution of Kenya.
A crime that is punishable, according to the law as it risks harm to the country´s armed forces as well as their loved ones.
Unsilenced
The blogger however soon after shares on social media:
I will continue to speak out for the poor police officers who are neglected, and their allowances taken by “wakubwa.”
We must give our men and women who die wearing uniform, respect, dignity and honor they deserve.
We shouldn’t treat our cops like dogs. I am angry!!
Shortly after backed by popular activist, Boniface Mwangi affirming:
It is immoral and criminal for the government to transport bodies of dead officers like trash.
There was no bodybags, not even bedsheets to cover their bodies.
The question is, where are the 30 armoured vehicles President Uhuru Kenyatta posed with in 2017?
However, Robert Alai has since then been picked and escorted to the DCI headquarters on Kiambu road.
BLOGGER ROBERT Alai arrested in Nairobi a day after police warned him over publishing of photos of terror victims on social media; escorted to DCI. pic.twitter.com/x5ABtjIKP8
— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) June 18, 2019
Background
The National Police Service on Monday picked on netizens who have been posting horrific photos of the Wajir attack.
Let this be a warning that such unpalatable acts shall not be tolerated.
Police spokesperson, Charles Owino told journalists that action will be taken, if anyone defies orders given.
This is in a statement addressing the press articulating:
As we mourn our fallen heroes,
posting of their pictures online by one blogger is very unfortunate, inhuman, glorifies terror & is tantamount to supporting terrorism.
This is indeed the lowest we can go.
We condemn this act in the strongest terms possible.
It is not only unpatriotic but is equally uncouth and unacceptable
Press Statement.
As we mourn our fallen heroes, posting of their pictures online by one blogger is very unfortunate, inhuman, glorifies terror & is tantamount to supporting terrorism.
This is indeed the lowest we can go. We condemn this act in the strongest terms possible. pic.twitter.com/OOtvb2vQJw
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) June 17, 2019
Alai has reportedly posted bodies of the fallen Kenyan police officers whose vehicle ran over an Improvised Explosive Device during the weekend.
https://twitter.com/Denogrant_/status/1140865585582133250
Roughly 12 officers died following the attack by Al-Shabaab militants in Wajir East.