This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
On October 16, 2019, a letter claiming the assassination of Deputy President William Ruto was published, sparking anxiety among the public. The letter, dated May 30, 2019, was allegedly published by Dennis Itumbi and Samuel Gateri.
Itumbi, the former State House Director of Digital, and Gateri appeared before Chief Magistrate Martha Mutuku on Tuesday, after the prosecution consolidated their cases. They are charged with publishing a false statement contrary to the law.
According to the charges, on or before June 20, Itumbi and Gateri allegedly published the letter with the intent to cause anxiety to the general public peace. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Chief Magistrate Mutuku ruled that the suspects' earlier cash bail terms remain. The matter will be heard on November 18. Itumbi and Gateri are out on Sh 100,000 cash bail.
Earlier, Gateri had claimed to be a witness against Itumbi, but the Directorate of Criminal Investigations dismissed the claims, stating that he was under investigation.
"We wish to clarify that contrary to insinuation by one Samwel Gateri that he's a state witness in respect to criminal case against one Denis Itumbi is false and misleading. The true facts are that he is a suspect under investigations. At no time was he envisaged to be a state witness," said the DCI.
