• Lawyer Elisha Ongoya has identified and reported 58 social media accounts using his name and facial image
• The accounts whose owners pose as an advocate and senior lecturer at Kabarak Law School are used to spread false information
• Ongoya requested CAK to shut down the accounts or lias with service providers to remove them to prevent further misguidance

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Prominent lawyer Elisha Ongoya has lodged a formal complaint with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) regarding 58 fraudulent social media accounts impersonating him.

The fake profiles, which bear either his name or facial image, have surfaced across multiple platforms following his recent public prominence after deconstructing Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who sponsored an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

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Why is Elisha Ongoya reporting fake accounts?

Ongoya, through his legal representatives, identified 48 fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter), seven on Facebook, and three on TikTok.

These accounts are allegedly being used to spread false or harmful information, misleading the public. Some of the user handles on X claim to represent Ongoya as an advocate and senior lecturer at Kabarak Law School.

“It has come to our client’s attention that following our client’s appearance before the country’s Senate to represent the deputy president in the ongoing constitutional process, a number of social media accounts have been created by persons not known to our client.

These accounts have been created either in our client’s name or in other names but bearing the facial image of our client. Some of these accounts are posting information that is totally inconsistent with our client’s philosophy of life. Some of them even border criminality,” the letter, witnessed by TUKO.co.ke stated.

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What does Ongoya demand concerning fake accounts?

Ongoya is now calling for a full investigation into the IP addresses linked to the fake accounts, urging the CAK to either shut them down directly or work with the respective service providers to have them removed.

He expressed concern over the potential damage caused by these impersonators, whose posts often spread misinformation.

“We have taken the liberty to copy this letter to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for further criminal investigations and coercive action against the perpetrators of this nefarious scheme,” they added.

The lawyer, celebrated for his eloquence and expertise, has requested swift action to protect his reputation and prevent further public misguidance.

Gachagua accuses 3-judge bench of bias

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team has raised concerns over a Saturday sitting by a three-judge bench of the High Court that set a date to rule on his impeachment case.

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In a letter to the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Gachagua’s lawyers claimed they were not informed of the sitting, accusing the judges of bias.

They further expressed apprehension about the possibility of their client receiving a fair trial, suggesting that the impeachment process, which began in the National Assembly and proceeded through the Senate, is now being extended to the Judiciary in what they see as a coordinated effort.

Source: TUKO.co.ke