The Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet has been prohibited by a Nairobi court from posting the images of arrested suspects online until the matter is heard on March 5, 2019.
“A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the Inspector of General Police and Director of Criminal Investigations from posting suspects and or accused person booking photographs and on the internet and social media and more and more specifically on the DCI Facebook and Twitter page pending the determination of the petition,” reads the court order.
Henry Shitada, the petitioner, argued that parading suspects on social media was a violation of human rights.
Dennis Kirwa, his lawyer, explained that a majority of the suspects whose images were shared are young people and that their employment would be at stake even after they had been acquitted.
#ARRESTED|Mr.Fredrick Muhanji Mangala alias Douglas Simiyu~a man who personates to be a National Intelligence Service Officer & the Master Planner of the Fake Tender to supply Laptops to State House was arrested yesterday in Kakamega. His co-accused already charged before Court. pic.twitter.com/SfafEudo5A
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) December 5, 2018
“The practice if not stopped may negate the presumption of innocence,” read the petition.
In recent times, the DCI has been very open about their operations and arrests through regular communication disseminated using its Twitter handle.
The communications are usually accompanied by a mugshot of the arrested individuals with a placard defining the nature of the crime.
It has been a vital source of information for journalists and citizens who like to keep up with investigative crime stories.
#ARRESTED|Detectives from the Serious Crime Unit have Today afternoon arrested four young men who created a website similar to Uwezo Fund and using the name of the @FirstLadyKenya, defrauded applicants millions of shillings after they sent an application fee for loan processing. pic.twitter.com/5GBi6ZkxPV
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) November 16, 2018
Some of the major arrests that have been announced through their online platform include individuals who were nabbed after trying to defraud Kenyans using First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s name.
The news about the arrest of a member of Nyeri County Assembly for stealing material used in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway broke on DCI’s Twitter handle.
The platform has also provided comic relief through some of their descriptions about suspects. In December, the directorate caused a frenzy after officers put an armed gangster to sleep.