Man arrested for fake news on coronavirus

Police in Kenya have arrested a 23-year-old man for publishing false information on the spread of coronavirus.

Elijah Muthui Kitonyo was arrested in Mwingi town in eastern Kenya for claiming that the government gave misleading details on the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the country.

The tweet on a fake account, which was widely circulated on social media over the weekend, claimed that the patient had originated from Rome in Italy and not the United States through London as stated by the government.

The arrest was confirmed by directorate of criminal investigations in a tweet.

He will be charged with publishing false information that can cause panic.

Violating Kenya’s cybercrimes law could attract a fine of $50,000 (£40,000) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or both.

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday warned citizens against publishing and sharing misinformation on coronavirus.