NAIROBI— The Kahawa Law Courts has granted the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) a 10-day custodial order to detain Bare Sahara Ahmed, a Member of County Assembly (MCA) aspirant from Garissa County, as detectives continue probing her alleged role in a viral video containing inciteful remarks.
The suspect, also referred to as Sahara Ahmed Bare or Sahara Ahmed Barre, appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court at Kahawa Law Courts today. She is accused of making statements in the widely circulated social media video that authorities say could incite ethnic hatred, division, and undermine national cohesion. The video reportedly surfaced following the killing of a taxi driver in Garissa, with remarks allegedly targeting non-local communities and police officers.
Bare Sahara Ahmed is currently held at Kilimani Police Station. The court order allows investigators additional time to complete inquiries, including forensic analysis of digital evidence such as call data records and financial transactions linked to the case.
This development follows her arrest by DCI detectives over the weekend. The agency has maintained that freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and within the limits of the law, warning that utterances likely to fuel hatred or threaten peaceful coexistence will be dealt with firmly.
In a statement, authorities underscored their commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding national unity. “We urge members of the public to exercise responsibility in their communications and refrain from engaging in conduct that may incite division or hatred,” the DCI emphasised.
The case has sparked public debate, with many commending the swift action while others monitor proceedings closely. The suspect remains in lawful custody pending further investigations. No plea has been taken as the matter is still at the inquiry stage.
The incident highlights growing concerns over the misuse of social media platforms to spread inflammatory content in Kenya, particularly in regions with underlying ethnic or security tensions.
