Nairobi-based bloggers Jack Okinyi and Milton Were arrested over Kenya Today post on KURA graft

 

Jack Oyugi photos. FILE

 

Two Nairobi-based bloggers Jack Okinyi and Milton Were were Tuesday night arrested for more than 10 hours before being taken to Capitol Hill police station where they were not booked.


Jack Okinyi and Milton Were were seized by detectives at 5 pm at Upper Hill (Nairobi county) and Syokimau (Machakos county) respectively.


The Duo write for online publications Business Illustrated and Kenya Today were taken to Kamukunji, Muthaiga, Kasarani and Mlolongo police stations but officers-in-charge declined to charge them then later were taken to Capitol hill police station.

However, they were not booked as well.

“I stay with my brother Milton Were in Syokimau. We were in the house when they came for my brother at 5 pm on Tuesday,” Newrich Oyuga said.


“They jumped over the gate and the first thing they rushed to take was his phone, laptop and any other gadget that looks like can store information. Two officers entered while another two remained at the gate.”


Police sources said that the bloggers were detained following a story they published on the two blogs alleging corruption at the Kenya Urban Roads Authority.


“We learned today that Okinyi was the first to be arrested and taken to Mlolongo. His friend was picked at Syokimau,” a close relative who wanted not to be mentioned said.


The bloggers were later taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters and asked to record statements. 

A senior official in the Special Crimes Unit said that the officers wanted to establish the contacts of the bloggers at Kura.