Businessman David Langat Denies Involvement in Activist Morara Kebaso's Arrest, Calls for Investigation

Prominent businessman David Langat has distanced himself from the controversial arrest of political activist Morara Kebaso, following allegations that Kebaso posted false and defamatory information about him on social media.

Langat, through a statement released on Tuesday, clarified that he had not filed any complaint against Kebaso, despite what was indicated in a circulating charge sheet. "Our Chairman has recorded a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Headquarters this morning and reiterated that he has nothing to do with the authors or content of the subject online posts," read part of the statement from DL Group of Companies Limited.

Kebaso was arrested on Monday after being accused of cyber harassment under Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. The charges stem from a post made on his X account (formerly Twitter) on September 28, 2024. In the post, Kebaso alleged that President William Ruto had sought financial help from Langat during his campaign, leading Langat to take out large loans using his properties as collateral. The post further claimed that Langat was being auctioned by banks and that President Ruto was using his influence to buy the properties at a cheaper price.

Kebaso's post read:

"William Ruto approached DL Langat and told him he desperately needs more money for campaign. DL Langat used his properties as security and took big loans to help his friend. Right now DL Langat is being auctioned by banks and the person who is buying the properties is William Ruto. To make it worse William Ruto has used his power to undervalue the properties to buy them at a cheaper price."

Langat has firmly denied having any involvement with the accusations or the post made by Kebaso. His statement emphasized that he had no part in the arrest or the ensuing legal actions, calling for an immediate investigation to clear any misconceptions regarding his involvement.

The arrest of Kebaso, a known political activist, has sparked significant public uproar, with many Kenyans taking to social media to voice their concerns over the nature of the charges. Kebaso has been released on a cash bail of Ksh.50,000, with the case set to be mentioned on October 4. His arrest has raised questions about the intersection of free speech and cybercrime laws in Kenya, particularly in politically charged situations.

As tensions rise following Kebaso’s arrest, David Langat’s swift denial adds a new dimension to the ongoing controversy. The public, already reacting strongly to the incident, is now calling for clarity on the charges, with some questioning whether the arrest was politically motivated. The case will continue to attract attention as it heads to court in the coming days.