LSK Intervenes After Maverick Aoko Reported Missing For 5 Days
Aoko has not been seen online for five days, raising concerns among Kenyan netizens regarding her presence.
Marvin Chege 
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) intervened on Sunday, October 27, and called for the immediate release of vocal online commentator and activist Maverick Aoko. This is after several Kenyans, including activists and top politicians, raised concern about her whereabouts.
Aoko has not been seen online for five days, raising concerns among Kenyan netizens regarding her presence.
Speaking to the media after tracing arrested Boniface Mwangi to the Kamukunji Police Station, LSK President Faith Odhiambo called for her immediate release and urged Kenyans to use the LSK hotline to provide any information regarding her disappearance.
Maverick Aoko appearing in court on August 19, 2024. /K24 DIGITAL
“We have heard that she is missing and we are asking for any information. Our hotline is still working. Please reach out to the LSK. Every life counts. We ask that whoever is holding her that she should be released immediately. Let’s not be a country that we live in intimidation or fear,” Odhiambo told the press.
"Kenya is our country, Kenya is our home. Let us fight to ensure that we uphold the rule of law. That every single person feels like they have a right to enjoy their rights fully in this country. People might say things that are not pleasant for you, however, there are rules to govern the same. Let us deal with people withing the confines of the law."
For five days, Aoko has been missing, with attempts to get in touch with her offline bearing no fruit.
"Where is Aoko?" has become the rallying cry on Twitter, with countless users expressing their concern and demanding answers.
This began on Sunday when Francis Gaitho reported on social media that Aoko had been missing for four days up to that point with no intervention from the LSK and civil society groups writing, “Aoko has been missing for 4 days now and LSK have not done shit to try and trace her. Boni went missing for a couple of hours and this specific clique of activists and journalists are on top of things.”
“I hate how civil society and mainstream (githeri) media are selective and openly biased in how they dispense their duties. You’re all pushing us for unity in the movement but turning a blind eye to this glaring classism. They claim to champion equality and inclusivity but are practitioners of the opposite without any honour or shame.”
Since then, more online personalities, politicians, and activists joined in on the viral trend surrounding Aoko, calling for her release, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who Aoko often pours praises on. On Monday morning, he posted a banner with ‘Free Aoko’ insignias.
Other prominent politicians who demanded her release included Busia Senator who wrote, “Where is Aoko? We begin the week trying to find Aoko. Remember Bogonko Bosire? One day in 2013, he went offline and has never been seen 11 years later. Retweet widely and make noise for Aoko. You never know, your voice could be what keeps her alive today.”
Despite all the noise, however, there is yet to be any substantive lead to her whereabouts whether online or offline. It is also not confirmed whether or not she has been arrested or abducted by police officers but some of her staunch supporters believe that she would not have taken a sabbatical from social media without prior notice.
Should that be the case, it wouldn't be the first time her bold political activism which includes name-dragging politicians in exposés on their private lives has landed her in trouble. Two months ago, Aoko was released on a cash bail of Ksh100,000, two days after she was arrested and detained over several posts she made online.
Police on Friday, August 16 reportedly stormed her house, seized her phones and laptop, and later took her to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for questioning. She spent the weekend in police custody.
She appeared at the Milimani Law Courts on Monday, August 19 on accusations of posting false information about Beth Wambui Mbuitu through her X account on August 3, 2024.
Aoko faced three charges. In the first count, she was charged with publishing false information under Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
In count two, Aoko was charged with cyber harassment contrary to Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes. In the third count, she was charged with fraudulent use of electronic data contrary to Section 38 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act No. 5 of 2018.
