The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a warning to Kenyans over the type of content shared on social media after the arrest of one suspect.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement, the DCI confirmed the arrest of a middle-aged woman who was nabbed on allegations of improper use of social media involving the publication of sensitive information linked to protected persons.

According to the DCI, the suspect was apprehended following an intelligence-led operation conducted in the Kazandani area after investigators allegedly linked the individual to an X account accused of sharing sensitive information relating to the movements of protected persons.

Authorities said the matter is currently under investigation as a potential threat to national security. The suspect remains in custody, undergoing processing ahead of arraignment in court. In a statement issued after the arrest, the DCI reminded Kenyans that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, social media users are required to exercise that right responsibly and within the confines of the law.

📌 What You Need to Know

“The Directorate remains committed to safeguarding national security and urges the public to refrain from sharing information that may compromise the safety of protected persons or incite unrest among the public,” the agency stated.

The DCI, however, did not specifically mention the sensitive information which the suspect was accused of sharing.

In recent years, security agencies have raised concerns over what they describe as the growing misuse of social media platforms for activities ranging from misinformation and impersonation to cyber harassment, online fraud and publication of sensitive information.

While improper use of social media is not automatically classified as a cybercrime under Kenyan law, certain online activities can attract criminal investigations when they are perceived to threaten national security, spread false information, violate privacy rights or unlawfully expose sensitive government operations.

In some cases, authorities also investigate online content linked to incitement, hate speech, cyber harassment or malicious communication.

Kenya has also recorded a rise in cyber-related incidents in recent years, with authorities repeatedly warning about increasing digital threats targeting institutions, businesses and individuals.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke