Somali-Kenyan Woman Detained for 10 Days After ‘Inciteful’ Remarks

GOOBJOOG NEWS|NAIROBI: A woman accused of making inflammatory remarks in a viral social media video has been detained for 10 days after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) secured custodial orders from the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa Law Courts.
In a statement, the DCI said the suspect, identified as Bare Sahara Ahmed, is being held at Kilimani Police Station as detectives continue investigations into alleged hate speech and ethnic incitement.
According to the agency, the court also authorised forensic examination of digital evidence, including call data records and financial transactions, as part of the probe.
The DCI said the move demonstrates the government’s commitment to enforcing the law against offences that threaten national cohesion and peaceful coexistence.
The case follows the circulation of a widely shared video on social media in which the suspect allegedly made remarks that investigators say could incite ethnic division. Kenyan media reports indicated the video emerged amid heightened tensions following recent security incidents in northern Kenya, with some outlets alleging the statements included threats against police officers and criticism over the killing of civilians in Garissa County.
The arrest was first announced on Sunday, when the DCI said detectives had reviewed the clip and launched inquiries to establish the context and intent of the statements. Authorities have not publicly disclosed any formal charges at this stage, pending completion of investigations.
Kenyan law criminalises hate speech and incitement under the National Cohesion and Integration Act, with authorities increasingly monitoring online content that could inflame ethnic or political tensions.
The DCI urged members of the public to communicate responsibly and avoid conduct that may promote hatred or division.