Billy 'Crazy Nairobian' Released, LSK Confirms [VIDEO]

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo has confirmed that the group had managed to secure the release of content creator Billy Simani, also known as “Crazy Nairobian”.

Speaking in a video released on Saturday, June 22, Odhiambo, who stood alongside Billy, opened up on the moments leading up to Billy's release, from the moment they were notified of Billy's reported abduction by five police officers following a wave of anti-Finance bill protests sweeping across Kenya.

"Hello everyone, I want to confirm that we have been able to rescue Billy and he is safe and sound...and I hope you can confirm that this is the Billy, I know we got a notification earlier and so as LSK we had thought that Billy had been free," Odhiambo narrated.

Billy Simani alias Crazy Nairobian speaking after the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) secured his release#FreeBilly #ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/pbhhww6PJ0 — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) June 22, 2024

"But when we sent someone to the station, we found that Billy was not there and he had not been booked. So the moment we got a tipoff, we ran immediately to try and find Billy."

Billy on his part, with few words to say, thanked Kenyans who rallied on social media to push for Kenyan authorities to set him free.

"I'm safe, thanks everyone, thanks to LSK for coming to my rescue...I am fine guys," he said.

As Odhiambo captioned the video "Free at last", on X, it garnered more than 590,000 views, 13,000 reposts and 18,000 likes. Billy's reported abduction by the police officers at his home in Mwihoko drew social media and nationwide uproar, with many demanding to know his whereabouts.

For the whole of Saturday, an X space titled “Good Morning Kenya: Where is Crazy Nairobian,” began as a call for the release of Billy and morphed into the ongoing conversation on the Finance Bill for the better part of the day.

By 12:30 p.m., the space had attracted over 50,000 listeners, including accounts linked to politicians and the government spokesperson’s office. At some point, even the account of President William Ruto made a short appearance as the attendance neared 60,000.

Participants questioned the whereabouts of Billy, who was arrested on Friday from his house. They also questioned why protestors are being threatened for exercising their right to picket and demonstrate.

“Last night we were told Billy is at Muthaiga Police Station, but he is not here. Where is Billy?” asked Osama Otero, one of the space’s hosts.

Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi responded, saying Simani was arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages. “I have checked with the police why Crazy Nairobian, Billy, is under arrest. I understand he sent threatening messages. I will reach out to the complainant to see if they can withdraw,” he wrote on X.

However, Itumbi later clarified that the released individual was not Simani but another content creator, Wafula Bwire, who had allegedly been detained for threatening a senior government official.

“CLARIFICATION: THE content creator arrested for threatening a senior public servant is WAFULA BWIRE – he was FREED this evening after the complaint was withdrawn. His relatives received him,” Itumbi explained, though his later statement sparked outrage among Kenyans on X

Itumbi also mentioned the release of Stephen Kariuki, held in Nakuru on a similar charge, prompting questions about Simani’s location. He noted efforts to verify Simani’s status with the police.

Earlier, 25 human rights associations of content creators, lawyers, medical officers and human rights defenders across the country called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to clarify the whereabouts of Billy.

The agencies which include the Bloggers Association of Kenya, The Law Society, the Kenya Medical Association, the Defenders Coalition, the Independent Medical Legal Union and Amnesty International Kenya rallied behind Simani.

"We also call for the immediate release of any other content creators currently under arrest.

"The Government of Kenya to issue a public undertaking that no content creators or any Kenyan for that matter will be arrested for expressing their opinion online or for supporting the current protests," the coalition stated in a press release on Saturday, June 22.

A picketer being arrested by police officers on June 20, 2024. /HOLYCK.X