Bungoma Politician in Court for Threatening to Circulate Naked Photos of Governor Fernandes Barasa
A politician from Bungoma County has been formally charged with cyberbullying Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.
Cyberbullying in Kenya
Joseph Lendrix Waswa is accused of threatening Barasa by telling him that he would circulate his naked photos in numerous WhatsApp groups.
Waswa, alias SSP Kiprop, appeared before Kibera Senior Principal Magistrate Margate Maroro on Thursday, April 25.
According to the charge sheet, Waswa allegedly gave Barasa an ultimatum to cooperate by sending him money, or his naked photos would go viral by 10 a.m.
“It is alleged that on March 19, 2024, at 1356 hrs at an unknown place using WhatsApp account number+2454xxxxxx under a mobile registration name of AL Yusuf, you sent a WhatsApp message to wit:
“Bure by saa nne (by 10 a.m.) I will have circulated all your naked photos kwa hizo WhatsApp groups? to Fernandes Barasa of WhatsApp account number 254xxxxxxxx information you knew would detrimentally affect him,” read the charge sheet.
Cybercrime laws in Kenya
According to the charge sheet presented in court, the prosecution accuses Waswa of allegedly committing a crime contrary to Section (1) b of the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crime Act.
Lawyer Bryan Khaemba represented Waswa in court.
He argued that his client was a respected leader and businessman, saying the governor framed him for unknown reasons.
Bungoma Politician in Court for Threatening to Circulate Naked Photos of Governor Fernandes Barasarespected leader and businessman. He has just been framed by Gov Fernandes Barasa for unknown reasons, “Khaemba told the court.
Waswa also faced another count of cyberbullying, where the prosecution accused him of allegedly sending another threatening message.
According to the charge sheet, Waswa, through a mobile number registered in the name of Al Yusuf, sent the following message:
“Trust me; I will circulate other photos of you and Mama that you’ve never seen, which are in the gadget on the media plus the naked ones. Bro hutafurahia.”
He allegedly sent the message to Fernandes Barasa on his WhatsApp number, +254xxxxxx, knowing that the message was detrimental to the victim.
Rashid Echesa charged with extortion
The other count indicated that Waswa and Rashid Echesa allegedly conspired to extort Barasa of KSh 1.5 billion.
According to the charge sheet, on March 18, 2024, in an unknown place, the duo, jointly with others not in court, conspired with intent to defraud and demanded KSh 1.5 billion by falsely accusing the Kakamega governor of kidnapping Echesa.
They allegedly demanded the amount to drop the false accusations against him.
Additionally, the duo was charged with attempted extortion using threats contrary to Section 300(1)(B) of the penal code.
The particulars of the offense are that on diverse dates between March 18, 2024, and March 26, 2024, at an unknown place, with intent to extort from Barasa a sum of KSh 1.5 billion, they threatened the governor that he would be accused of a felony concerning the kidnapping of Echesa if their demands were not met.
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The politician who tried his hand at politics in 2022 was further accused on December 18, 2024, in an unknown place, jointly with others, not before the court, conspired to defraud Barasa by falsely accusing him of kidnapping Echesa.
They allegedly demanded KSh 250 million from the governor to drop false accusations against him.
Khaemba pleaded with the court to grant Waswa lenient bail terms. He denied all the charges against him and was freed on a bond of KSh 500,000.
The matter will be mentioned on May 20.
Echesa was charged with extorting Barasa KSh 1.5 billion on Friday, April 19.
Bungoma Politician in Court for Threatening to Circulate Naked Photos of Governor Fernandes Barasa
