Kindiki: We’re probing leaders in 19 counties using cyberspace to incite violence

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki has said that the state is actively investigating leaders from 19 counties who are using cyberspace to harass and incite violence.

Speaking at the Senate, Kindiki said the investigations also involve influencers from these counties.

He said that while cyberspace is being used for freedom of expression, certain individuals want to incite violence and go overboard in the guise of exercising their freedom of expression.

“The other side of the story is that there are people who may want to use security officials to try and suppress opinions and harass people who express alternative political opinions. We are aware and I want to confirm what the distinguished Senator for Isiolo has said, that we have active investigations as we speak in 19 counties of leaders and other influencers who have organized teams of online people to harass, intimidate, incite violence using the cyberspace,” Kindiki said.

The Interior CS said that this is a problem that the government is looking into and will be dealt with before it goes beyond control.

Kindiki assured that the idea of setting up criminal gangs and groups to attack people for political and other reasons physically or to attack opponents and people of a divergent opinion online and propagate violence, will not be tolerated.

He added that action will be taken on all persons who will be found to be involved regardless of the political divide they support.

The Interior CS insisted that such acts are a threat to the security of the country and must be dealt with decisively.

“We are investigating groups of both physical and online gangs that are propagating violence in the name of freedom of expression. We will take action on all the actors whether they are persuaded to support the government or they are in the opposition because it’s a threat to our security as a nation and we must arrest this matter before it goes out of hand,” Kindiki said.