Machakos Governor has threatened to sue anyone publishing fake news on the incidence surrounding his rescue from a collapsed bridge in Kisii County.
He will invoke the newly signed Computer Misuse and Cyber-Crimes Bill 2018 signed into law on Wednesday by the President.
This comes after mainstream media, bloggers and social media reported that the bridge at River Gucha collapsed on Friday morning as
Mutua and Kisii DG Joash Maangi were taking a selfie when they fell over.
However, the governor denied the claims stating that the bridge was overwhelmed by the public who had streamed in as they toured the county hence the collapse.
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“I urge editors & internet site managers to verify the truth & to pull down the false Gucha river incident info they are reporting and to correct it with the truth. The OB number of my statement that will be used to charge ALL who publish & retain online lies is: 34 of 18/5/18,”Mutua said.
The Governor added that he had written a statement with the CID at Ogembo Police Station so that Standard Journalist Geoffrey Mosoku may be charged with spreading fake news and cyberbullying for lying that he had fallen into River Gucha and that he was taking a selfie.
“The new law that just assented to will be used to charge all those lying and others copying and spreading lies about the Gucha incident. We have video evidence that contradicts the lies and hundreds of witnesses. Fake news, impunity and abuse of social media have to end,”Mutua tweeted.
The Act – which spells out stiff punishment to cybercriminals – provides for timely and effective detection, prohibition, prevention, response, investigation and prosecution of computer and cybercrimes.