Popular TikToker Kakan Maiyo, who was arrested on Wednesday night in Nairobi for allegedly inciting violence against police officers and their families, is expected in court today.
Maiyo spent the last two days locked up at the Muthaiga Police Station and is expected to be arraigned at the Kahawa Law Courts.
He was apprehended by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at Kimathi House, where he runs a private logistics firm.
His lawyer, David Ogara, told The Standard that the OB indicated the police intend to charge him with false publication and cyber harassment, but they have yet to see the final charge sheet.
Police had told Ogara and Maiyo’s family that he would be arraigned yesterday at Kahawa, but that did not happen. By yesterday evening, Maiyo’s family was at Muthaiga Police Station, where they were told he had not been taken to court.
The dramatic arrest was captured on video, in which several officers could be seen manhandling the businessman, who repeatedly asked them to relax since he was not resisting.
Trapped by an electric cable, he begged the officers to minimise force and arrest him more gently.
DCI posted about the arrest on their X page, stating that Kakan was in custody awaiting arraignment.
“Godfrey Mwasiaga Kakan Maiyo, the suspect behind a viral video inciting violence against police officers and their families, has been arrested. The video had been uploaded to his TikTok account,” tweeted DCI.
They said Maiyo’s arrest was part of a crackdown on individuals accused of spreading hate and encouraging violence, especially during recent anti-government protests.
This arrest happened on the same day President William Ruto issued a strong warning to those involved in violent attacks on police and damage to public property.
In a speech in Kilimani, President Ruto referred to such posts and videos as acts of terrorism.
He said there would be consequences from the government over the content, adding that demonstrators no longer protested for the good of the country.