A university student, Tyson Kibet, has been charged with cybersquatting after allegedly creating a Facebook account using former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s name to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans. Kibet, a third-year student, appeared before Milimani Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi and denied the charges.
Cybersquatting involves the unauthorized registration and use of internet domain names that are identical or similar to trademarks, service marks, company names, or personal names. According to the charge sheet, Kibet created the Facebook account on November 25, 2023, without the authority of Mike Sonko, intending to defraud Kenyans using Sonko’s credentials.
The prosecution urged the court to either deny Kibet bond or impose stringent bond terms, arguing that there was no documentation proving his student status or any evidence that he had exams. “Give bond terms relating to the offense,” the prosecution stated.
Kibet’s lawyer countered, asserting that Kibet is indeed a student with ongoing exams and should be released on low bond terms. “He is a victim of circumstances. Even his classmates have raised Sh50,000 through a WhatsApp group to help with cash bail. Kindly grant him the amount to enable him to attend classes,” the lawyer argued.
Magistrate Shitubi, acknowledging Kibet’s young age and the possibility of his student status and ongoing exams, ruled in favor of reasonable bond terms. “I have listened to the submissions from both the prosecuting counsel and the defense. The accused person herein is a young man, he could be a student at the said college, and he could be having ongoing exams,” she said.
Kibet was released on a cash bail of Sh200,000 or a bond of Sh1 million. The case is scheduled for mention on June 10 for pretrial.
