By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
July 3, 2026 - TikTok influencer Abdi Hassan Abdullahi was charged at Garissa Law Courts over alleged inflammatory remarks made in a viral video deemed to incite ethnic and religious hostility.
The influencer, popularly known as "Sharu" by his TikTok fans, allegedly uploaded incitement remarks in which he impelled members of the Muslim community in Garissa against non-Muslims.
During a mass protest in April after 21-year-old Adhan Hassan was allegedly shot dead by a police officer, Sharu and other social media influencers called on residents to join the demonstrations.
Police then launched a manhunt for people they said were inciting the public against each other to cause violence. He had been on police radar since then, with claims that he had crossed over to Somalia to evade justice.
At the time, police also arrested and arraigned Garissa politician Siman Ahmed, who allegedly made inciteful remarks against non-locals in Garissa. Her case is ongoing in Nairobi courts.
According to detectives, Abdi Hassan uploaded the video on his TikTok account under the name "Sharu" on April 23, 2026, where he made inciteful remarks.
Following his arrest on May 16, 2026, detectives concluded investigations and forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which directed that he be charged with: ethnic and racial contempt, contrary to Section 62(1) of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, No. 12 of 2008; and cyber harassment, contrary to Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
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On July 2, 2026, Abdullahi was arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. He was released on a bond of Sh500,000, with an alternative cash bail of Sh200,000.
The matter is scheduled for pre-trial proceedings on July 20, 2026.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) called upon members of the public to note that while freedom of expression is protected by law, it does not extend to conduct that unlawfully incites hatred, discrimination or public disorder.
The DCI said social media platforms should be used responsibly, and anyone who uses them to commit criminal offences will be investigated and brought before the courts in accordance with the law.