A Mombasa woman has been detained for three days after detectives linked her to an X account that allegedly published information tracking President William Ruto's flight movements, opening a fresh debate over the limits of online expression and national security.
Halima Ngache, popularly known online as "Princess Halima", was arrested on June 30 in Bamburi, Mombasa County, by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' (DCI) Serious Crimes Unit and later escorted to Nairobi.
Investigators told the Milimani Law Courts that Ngache is linked to the verified X account, @sholard_mancity, which allegedly published flight information and route charts purportedly tracking the President's movements.
According to court documents, the account posted claims that President Ruto travelled from Belgium to Norway aboard a chartered private jet on June 8 and from Norway to Finland on June 10. Another post published on June 25 alleged that the President had left Kenya and was expected to board a private jet in Madagascar.
DCI Director Amin Mohamed said the suspect is being investigated for cyber harassment contrary to Section 27(1) of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The matter will be mentioned on July 6.
In an affidavit filed before the court, Corporal Edwin Metto of the DCI's Serious Crimes Unit said investigators received intelligence on June 29 concerning the account and the information it had published.
The investigator said detectives were yet to establish the motive behind the alleged tracking but argued that the posts had triggered security concerns.
"...the motive of the alleged tracking remains unknown and the information published by the said user has caused apprehension on the person of the Head of State as well as Kenyan citizens," the affidavit states.
The DCI said detectives recovered two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, flash drives and other electronic devices during the arrest. The devices are expected to undergo forensic examination as investigators seek evidence they believe is relevant to the case.
However, Ngache told the court that although her electronic devices had been seized, the X account remained active, suggesting that another person could be operating it.
Senior Principal Magistrate Theresa Nyangena granted detectives permission to detain Ngache at Muthaiga Police Station for three days pending completion of investigations.
The arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of social media activity and the sharing of information relating to the movements of senior government officials and protected persons. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, authorities maintain that the right is not absolute and should not be exercised in a manner that compromises security.
The DCI urged members of the public to refrain from sharing information that could compromise the security of protected persons or incite public unrest.
