A Garissa court has charged a TikTok user accused of posting inflammatory content allegedly aimed at inciting ethnic and religious hostility, as authorities intensify efforts to curb hate speech on social media.
The suspect, Abdi Hassan Abdullahi, also known as Sharu, was arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts on Thursday after detectives from Garissa Police Station completed investigations into a viral video he allegedly shared on TikTok.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), investigations established that on April 23, 2026, Abdullahi uploaded the video to his TikTok account under the username “sharu”, where he allegedly incited members of the Muslim community in Garissa County against non-Muslims.
Detectives arrested the suspect on May 16, 2026, before forwarding the completed case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review.
The ODPP directed that Abdullahi be charged with Ethnic and Racial Contempt, contrary to Section 62(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, No. 12 of 2008, and Cyber Harassment, contrary to Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
Appearing before the Garissa Law Courts on July 2, 2026, Abdullahi pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The court released him on a Sh500,000 bond, with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.
The case is scheduled for pre-trial proceedings on July 20, 2026.
In a statement, the DCI reminded Kenyans that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the right does not protect speech that incites hatred, discrimination or public disorder.
The investigative agency urged members of the public to use social media platforms responsibly, warning that individuals who commit criminal offences online will face investigations and prosecution in accordance with the law.
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