DCI Goes After Popular TikToker After Viral Clip

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arraigned a TikTok user before the Garissa Law Courts over alleged inflammatory remarks made in a viral video that incited ethnic and religious hostility.

In a statement dated July 3, the DCI said detectives from Garissa Police Station presented Abdi Hassan Abdullahi, also known as Sharu, before the court after concluding investigations into the matter.

“Detectives from Garissa Police Station have arraigned a suspect before the Garissa Law Courts over alleged inflammatory remarks made in a viral TikTok video deemed to incite ethnic and religious hostility,” read part of the statement.

DCI Charges TikTok User With Ethnic Contempt and Cyber Harassment

According to the detectives, 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.

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DCI said Abdullahi was arrested on May 16, 2026, after which detectives completed investigations and forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

Therefore, following a review of the file, the ODPP directed that he be charged with Ethnic and Racial Contempt, contrary to Section 62(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, and Cyber Harassment, contrary to Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.

DCI noted that Abdullahi appeared before the Garissa Law Courts on July 2, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released on a bond of Ksh500,000, with an alternative cash bail of Ksh200,000.

” Yesterday, July 2, 2026, Abdullahi was arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was released on a bond of Sh500,000, with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000,” DCI stated.

The case is scheduled for pre-trial proceedings on July 20, 2026.

Kenyans Cautioned Against Incitement on Social Media

The agency also reminded members of the public that while freedom of expression is protected by law, it does not extend to conduct that unlawfully incites hatred, discrimination or public disorder.

Additionally, DCI urged Kenyans to use social media responsibly, warning that anyone who uses online platforms to commit criminal offences will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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This comes a few months after detectives arrested Bare Sahara Ahmed, a suspect linked to a viral video DCI said contained inciteful remarks likely to undermine national cohesion.

Bare Sahara Ahmed was taken into custody after investigators reviewed the video circulating on social media and launched inquiries to establish the context and intent of the statements.

The agency argued that Ahmed’s remarks were “hateful utterances” that could incite division and undermine peaceful coexistence, stressing that freedom of expression does not protect hate speech or incitement to violence.

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