City-based lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui has formally requested the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate businessman Michael Makarina for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media that linked Kinyanjui to a bribery scandal involving former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a complaint addressed to DCI Director Mohamed Amin, Kinyanjui accused Makarina of cyberbullying and spreading false information after sharing an old video on X (formerly Twitter) that purportedly showed Kinyanjui and a former judge arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over a KSh 25.4 million bribe aimed at influencing Supreme Court cases linked to Gachagua.
False Allegations and Misleading Content
Kinyanjui denied ever being arrested or involved in any bribery scheme. He explained that the video used was of retired Judge Mutava's arrest by the EACC and claimed that Makarina deliberately misrepresented the footage to suggest Kinyanjui was implicated.
The post caption read: "EACC ARRESTS JUDGE AND RIGATHI LINKED LAWYER RED-HANDED IN BRIBERY SCANDAL LINKED TO SUPREME COURT IMPEACHMENT CASE." Kinyanjui refuted this, stating the claims were fabricated and damaging to his reputation.
Impact on Professional Reputation
Kinyanjui highlighted that the allegations harmed his standing, especially given his involvement in constitutional cases related to Gachagua's impeachment. He noted the post implied he orchestrated or supervised corrupt payments to influence judicial outcomes, which he strongly denied.
He also mentioned receiving numerous calls from clients seeking clarification, underscoring the reputational damage caused.
Refusal to Remove Post and Legal Action
After discovering the post, Kinyanjui reportedly contacted Makarina, who refused to remove the content. Consequently, Kinyanjui requested the DCI to investigate and, if appropriate, order the removal of the post and possibly disable the associated X account.
The complaint cites Section 27(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, which addresses harmful online communications, although recent court rulings have questioned parts of the law related to cyber harassment.
EACC Disavows Alleged Operation
Attached to the complaint was an EACC statement clarifying that no such bribery operation took place and labeling the social media claims as false and misleading. The commission urged the public to rely on official communications for accurate information.
Kinyanjui reaffirmed he was never arrested on August 17 or any other date concerning the alleged bribery or related matters.
The matter now awaits DCI investigation into what Kinyanjui describes as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his professional reputation through false corruption allegations.
