The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has sought to detain Samwel Mogwasi Mainga, a Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher, for seven days in connection with a case of identity theft and impersonation. Mainga is accused of using a fake Facebook account to impersonate June Ruto, the daughter of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, between March 20, 2025, and April 8, 2025.
The investigative officer, Peter Mwangi, argued that Mainga’s actions violated Section 29 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act No. 5 of 2018. According to the DCI, Mainga posted content on the fraudulent Facebook account, pretending to be June Ruto, which was an attempt to deceive the public. Mwangi stated that the matter was both complex and serious, and that additional time was needed to extract vital information related to the investigation and to interview remaining witnesses.
The DCI further expressed concerns about Mainga being a flight risk. The authorities argued that they had been unable to verify Mainga’s residence, which raised fears that he might flee the jurisdiction and evade legal proceedings. The DCI requested the detention period to allow time for further investigation and to ensure that the necessary steps were taken to complete the case.
However, Mainga’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, strongly opposed the DCI’s request for detention. Omari argued that the teacher’s absence was causing undue disruption, leaving his students unattended and stranded in Mombasa. The lawyer contended that there were no compelling reasons presented by the DCI to justify detaining Mainga for an extended period. He also pointed out that the investigation could continue even without Mainga in custody, as the authorities could still examine the fraudulent Facebook account while the teacher was out on bail.
Omari further urged the court to release Mainga on reasonable bail and impose reporting conditions instead of detaining him for seven days. He stressed that Mainga was willing to cooperate fully with the authorities during the investigation and had no intention of evading the law. The lawyer argued that it was unnecessary to detain Mainga, particularly given the lack of evidence to suggest that the teacher was likely to flee.
In response to the DCI’s application, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Kebabe Ondieki decided to hold a ruling on the matter until Friday, April 11, 2025. In the meantime, Mainga was ordered to be detained overnight at the Capitol Hill police station. The decision to extend his detention would be made after further consideration of the application.
Mainga had been arrested on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Mombasa, where he was accompanying his JSS pupils to participate in the National Sports event. His arrest has sparked concern regarding the disruption of his teaching responsibilities, as well as the impact on his students, who were left without supervision during their time in Mombasa. The case continues to unfold, with the outcome of the court’s ruling pending.
