Court issues arrest warrant for blogger Kitovoto Mutinda
By Zipporah Ngwatu, March 23, 2026A Nairobi court has issued a warrant of arrest against blogger Kitovoto Mutinda after he failed to turn up for a hearing in a case in which he has been sued by Mwingi Central Member of Parliament (MP) Gideon Mulyungi.
Kitovoto is charged with nine different counts of publishing false information against Mwingi Central MP, contrary to section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
The case hearing was previously adjourned after the accused’s lawyer told the court that his client could not appear in court because he was unwell.
The matter was slated for another hearing today, on Monday, March 23, 2026, before Milimani Principal Magistrate Rose Ndombi.
However, the court heard that the accused and his lawyer were not in court and that the hearing could not proceed.
Meanwhile, the legislator-lawyer requested the court to issue a warrant of arrest against the accused.
Further, the complainant informed the court that the accused has continued to publish information against him despite the ongoing case in court.
Notably, the MP, through his lawyer, made an oral application seeking orders blocking Kitovoto from continuing to publish information against MP Mulyungi.
Magistrate Ndombi has granted the request, forfeited the cash bail, and issued a warrant of arrest against Kitovoto.
She has also issued orders barring the accused from continuing to publish any information that is injurious to the MP pending the hearing and determination of the case.
“Therefore, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings, the accused is hereby restrained from publishing any information relating to any subject in this case that is alleged to be false and injurious to the complainant pending the hearing and determination of this case.”
According to the charge sheet, Mutinda is said to have intentionally published false information through a write-up account, Kinuko 96.5 FM, on August 9, 2024, at 1556 hours in the Kitui leaders’ council WhatsApp group with the intent that the data be considered or acted upon as authentic.
Kitovoto has also been charged with publishing the same information on the Kitui Professional Forum WhatsApp group, the proposed Mwingi Municipality WhatsApp group, the Kitui DG platform WhatsApp, the United People of Mwingi WhatsApp group, the Kitui Leaders’ Council WhatsApp group, and the Mwingi Political Forum WhatsApp group.