By Francis Gaitho | September 19, 2025
In a escalating crackdown on digital crimes, a Kenyan court has greenlit a sweeping police operation targeting alleged perpetrators of cyber harassment and identity theft.
The Senior Principal Magistrate’s Court at Kehancha, Homa Bay County, on September 16, 2025, issued a search warrant authorizing the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Migori to raid residences, workplaces, and electronic devices linked to three suspects.
The move comes amid a broader investigation under Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018, spotlighting tensions between law enforcement and media freedom.
The case, docketed as Miscellaneous Criminal Application No. EDG 605 of 2025, stems from a complaint lodged with the DCI Migori, accusing the respondents of orchestrating a campaign of online intimidation and extortion.
At the center is journalist Collins Kweyu, a reporter with the Standard Group, whose arrest earlier this week has ignited debates over press freedoms and judicial overreach. Kweyu, detained at Nairobi’s Central Police Station following his apprehension in the capital, claims he was lured into a trap via a deceptive phone call inviting him to a meeting at a local restaurant.
The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has decried the arrest as “politically motivated,” with Secretary-General Eric Oduor vowing to pursue cash bail and legal recourse.
The Accusations: A Trail of Threatening Messages and Extortion Demands
According to court documents, the probe was triggered on August 20, 2025, when a victim reported receiving a barrage of threatening WhatsApp and direct text messages from three mobile numbers: 0734411068, 078797605, and 072847301.
The messages, investigators allege, demanded a staggering KSh 10 million under duress, laced with threats of reputational harm and personal exposure – hallmarks of cyber harassment under Sections 27 and 29 of the Cybercrimes Act.
The DCI’s supporting affidavit, sworn by Investigating Officer No. 10219 PC Festus Mate, a police officer attached to the Directorate, paints a picture of coordinated digital malice. “Through preliminary intelligence and investigation, the said mobile numbers are registered in the names of Benson Lengolenyang, Martin Njoroge, and Collins Kweyu respectively,” the affidavit states.
It further claims credible evidence points to the suspects’ use of electronic gadgets – including mobile phones, computers, laptops, SIM cards, and other materials – to perpetrate the offenses.
The charges leveled against the trio are multifaceted, blending elements of cyber harassment, identity theft, and related contraventions:
- Cyber Harassment (Section 27 of the Cybercrimes Act): The accused are alleged to have transmitted “diverse dates” of menacing communications post-August 20, 2025, intended to coerce, intimidate, and cause emotional distress. Such acts, the prosecution argues, violate provisions criminalizing the use of digital platforms to harass or threaten individuals.
- Identity Theft (Section 29 of the Cybercrimes Act): Investigators assert that the suspects impersonated authorities or fabricated identities to extort funds, a tactic that erodes trust in online interactions and personal security. The affidavit highlights the “threatening WhatsApp messages” as key evidence, demanding payment to avert “detrimental” disclosures.
- Extortion and Computer Misuse: Beyond the core cyber offenses, the demands for KSh 10 million are framed as economic coercion, with the mobile numbers traced directly to the respondents. The court filing emphasizes that these actions not only targeted an individual but also undermine broader public confidence in digital spaces.
Supporting the application, the DCI urged the court to issue a search warrant to recover “items reasonably suspected to be connected to the commission of the said offences.” This includes bodily searches of the suspects, raids on their residences, motor vehicles, workplaces, and any other premises under their control.
Seized materials – phones, SIM cards, computers, laptops, and ancillary evidence – must be presented before the court for safekeeping, pending forensic analysis.
Court Response: Warrant Issued, Raids Imminent
Presiding over the matter, the Honorable Court granted the application on grounds of public interest and the necessity of evidence preservation. The warrant, effective immediately, empowers DCI officers to enter and search without further delay, with all seized items to be retained in safe custody for ongoing investigations. “This will greatly assist in bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the ruling notes, underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to combating the rising tide of cyber-enabled crimes in Kenya.
The operation’s scope is broad: from physical premises in Migori and surrounding areas to digital footprints that could span Nairobi, where Kweyu was nabbed. Legal experts view this as a test case for balancing investigative zeal with constitutional rights, particularly under Article 31 (privacy) and Article 34 (freedom of the media) of the Kenyan Constitution.
Broader Implications: Press Under Siege?
Kweyu’s detention has amplified cries of foul play. Sources close to the journalist allege the arrest ties back to his reporting on a Homa Bay judge accused of corruption – a narrative that surfaced in Migori courts. “This isn’t justice; it’s a silencing tactic,” Oduor told reporters, echoing concerns from rights groups like Article 19 East Africa. The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), in past petitions, has challenged similar provisions of the Cybercrimes Act as overly broad, potentially stifling dissent.
As of September 19, 2025, the other two accused – Benson Lengolenyang (alias Ben Limo) and Martin Njoroge (alias Ben Limo) – remain at large, with intelligence suggesting they may be evading capture through aliases and electronic evasion. The DCI has appealed for public tips, promising confidentiality.
This case underscores Kenya’s evolving battle against cyber threats, where over 1,000 incidents were reported in 2024 alone, per National Police Service data. Yet, as digital tools empower both criminals and watchdogs, the line between prosecution and persecution grows perilously thin.
The Kehancha court hearing on September 16 could set precedents – or precedents for abuse – that ripple far beyond Migori’s borders. For now, the suspects’ fates hang in the balance, as does the integrity of Kenya’s online public square.
