Banker charged with insulting Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery

A man has been charged with posting insults on social media targeting Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery.

Jackson Saruni Tirkolo, 28, is accused of posting insulting messages on his Facebook account aimed at the CS contrary to the National Cohesion and Integration Commission Act.

Tirkolo, who is a banker, appeared before Narok Chief Magistrate Wilbroda Juma and was charged that on May 1, he posted abusive, insulting, threatening and other unprintable words against Nkaissery.

He is said to have posted a message in a Facebook group referred to as ‘Elelero e Maa’ page.

According to the charge sheet, the words posted on Facebook were insulting to Nkaissery and meant to create a breach of peace.

Another charge indicated the said words were dangerous to the cohesion and integration of the nation as they were meant to incite members of the Maasai community living in Narok against the Kikuyu community.

Tirkolo, however, did not plead as his lawyer Ken Kilele told the court his client was unwell.

The case will be mentioned tomorrow.

Kilele is out on a police bond of Sh150,000.

Last week, the court ordered police to release Tirkolo on police bond after the prosecution failed to prefer charges against him, saying investigations were not complete.

SERIOUS OFFENCE

Police had wanted more time to hold the banker in custody but the court declined.

Through the prosecutor, State counsel David Mwangi, said police had sought the court’s permission to hold Tirkolo for a further five days, saying the offence was serious since the post was intended to create ethnic hatred between two communities.

Mwangi also argued that the post was directed at the Cabinet secretary and they are yet to record a statement from him.

And in March, another man landed in court over claims he had insulted a senator. Kalinga Mgandi, an activist who claimed to have had an affair with Mombasa Senator Emma Mbura, was charged with sending her offensive messages.