The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has obtained a 10-day custodial order from the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa Law Courts to allow investigators to continue inquiries into alleged hate speech and ethnic incitement linked to a video that circulated on social media.
The order was issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa Law Courts, allowing officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain Bare Sahara Ahmed for 10 days as inquiries continue.
The respondent, Sahara Ahmed Bare, is being held at Kilimani Police Station as detectives carry out forensic analysis of digital evidence, including call data records and financial transactions, which authorities say may help establish the context and reach of the statements under investigation.
In a statement, the DCI said it had secured the custodial order to allow time to complete the inquiry and process the material collected so far.
The agency stated that the court also authorised a review of digital records that may provide further details on communication patterns and possible coordination related to the content in question.
“The respondent, Bare Sahara Ahmed, is currently detained at Kilimani Police Station for a period of 10 days to allow investigators to complete inquiries into the matter. The court has further authorised forensic analysis of relevant digital evidence, including call data records and financial transactions, to support the investigation,” the statement added.
The agency said the move reflects its mandate to enforce the law and respond to offences that may affect national cohesion and peaceful coexistence, noting that the investigation will proceed within the legal framework and that findings will be presented before the court once the process is complete.
The case has also drawn attention from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), which issued a statement on Monday condemning remarks attributed to Sahara and warning that such statements may undermine unity and go against the principles set out in the Constitution of Kenya.
The Commission said the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression but made clear that the right does not cover hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda for war.
It stated that individuals have a responsibility to exercise their rights in a way that supports unity and respect among communities.
NCIC further said that every Kenyan has the right to live, work, and carry out lawful activities in any part of the country without facing discrimination or intimidation, adding that these rights must be protected at all times to ensure stability and social order.
According to investigators, Sahara was taken into custody on Sunday after authorities began reviewing a video that had been widely shared online and was said to contain statements that could lead to tension among communities if left unaddressed.
The case comes at a time when authorities have increased monitoring of online platforms in response to concerns over the spread of content that may affect relations among communities, with agencies urging the public to use digital spaces in a responsible manner and report material that may violate the law
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