Standard journalist Collins Kweyu receives threats linked to Migori judge case

Standard Group photojournalist Collins Kweyu says his life is in danger after receiving threats through WhatsApp over a case involving a Migori-based judge.

According to Kweyu, the anonymous individual first introduced himself as a Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officer before later claiming to be a journalist.

The person warned him in Kiswahili to “leave the judge alone,” (wachana na judge), adding that he had “touched a live wire.”

The threats escalated when the sender ominously declared that “the world is coming to an end today” (dunia inaisha leo) and told him to “be ready.”

When asked by Kweyu to explain, the person responded cryptically, saying: “message home.”

The conversation did not end at that. The following day, he awoke to further messages from the same contact, mocking him for being “afraid” before backtracking to say it had all been a joke.

“Bro kumbe unakuwanga muoga hivi,” read one of the messages.

The sender then insisted he was a fellow journalist, that he was not in the country, and that he meant no harm to “a fellow journalist.” He even asked whether he could call Kweyu directly.

Kweyu, however, was unconvinced and reported the matter to the police at Central Police Station in Nairobi, on Monday, where a formal statement was recorded.

His lawyer, Nelson Havi, who is the former Law Society of Kenya president, confirmed that the individual behind the threats has been summoned to appear before police on Tuesday to record a statement.

“Statement has been taken. Whoever sent the message has been asked to record a statement tomorrow,” Havi said.

He further said that whoever the person is, they might be sympathisers of the judge or people deliberately sent by the judge to instill fear in Kweyu.

Havi said the threats were part of a wider pattern of intimidation linked to the ongoing investigations against the Migori-based Judge.

He stated that when Kweyu travelled to Migori to record a statement with investigators last week, the judge in question repeatedly called the investigating officer, pressuring him to arrest Kweyu.

“That did not sit well with the officer, who told the judge to let him do his work. What I take from this is that the judge has panicked and is trying the best he can to instill fear and intimidate Kweyu. It is an attempt to scare him from releasing information on what he knows,” said Havi.

Havi further criticised the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for failing to act on the matter despite it being in the public domain for over a week.

“The JSC is yet to summon the judge or even those who complained to have given the judge money. It is taking longer than it should for them to take action. This seems a deliberate attempt to suppress or intimidate those who know about the matter,” he said.

On September 19, Kweyu was arrested in Nairobi’s CBD following a complaint lodged against him by the Migori judge. Police detained him at Central Police Station, a move that sparked outrage among media associations.

The Crime Journalists Association of Kenya (CJAK) condemned the arrest, saying that using state machinery to silence a journalist investigating possible corruption within the judiciary is an attack not only on press freedom but on the very rule of law itself.

The Court Reporters Association of Kenya (CRAK) Secretary General Sam Kiplagat urged the police to respect due process.

“This case highlights the urgent need for law enforcement agencies to respect the rights and dignity of all individuals under investigation,” noted Kiplagat.

Days later, Kweyu honoured summons by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Migori, where he was treated as a State witness rather than a suspect.

Migori CCIO Benard Wamalwa confirmed that investigators had taken a detailed statement from him in a case involving allegations of bribery and identity theft.

According to Kweyu he had sought the judge’s comment on allegations of bribery but had never demanded a bribe himself.

“I contacted the judge and only wanted him to respond to allegations,” he said.