This archive report was first published on 27 July 2020.
A Nairobi court has made a ruling in a case involving a freelance journalist, Isaac Kibet Yego, who was arrested over a Covid-19 publication against CS Fred Matiang'i.
On July 27, 2020, the court, led by Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku, declined to grant the prosecution's request to detain Yego for 14 days to complete investigations.
However, the court allowed the police to detain Yego at Muthaiga police station for two days, which the magistrate found sufficient for investigators to complete their work.
According to the court, the prosecution had control of the gadgets and forensic investigations did not require 14 days, making two days sufficient.
Yego was alleged to have posted on Twitter and Facebook that CS Matiang'i was admitted to the ICU due to Covid-19.
The prosecution had argued that Yego's release would allow him to access his Twitter and Facebook accounts and interfere with the evidence and witnesses.
However, Yego's lawyers opposed the application, stating that it was an infringement of his rights and that investigators had the duty to complete investigations before arraigning him in court.
