Blogger and social media enthusiast Scophine Aoko Otieno, known in social media circles as Maverick Aoko Otieno, found herself in the Milimani Court facing serious charges of allegedly publishing false information on August 16, 2024 but, was released on a cash bail of Sh. 100,000 after spending the weekend at Muthaiga Police Station.
Aoko, who is in her 30s and from Kisumu County, was charged with publishing false information on her ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) account. She also faced two additional counts: cyber harassment and fraudulent use of electronic data.
The charges revolve around an incident on August 3, when Aoko allegedly posted defamatory and threatening content involving individuals named Amber Ray and Jamal.
The tweet read: “Maze it disorients me to say this.. But Amber Ray is innocent. She did not ruin marriage ya Jamal Amira.. Beth did.. She’s the daughter of a powerful cop so if you find me thrown Kware, refer to this tweet… Ask how Jamal moved from Makanga wa South C to Matatu boss… Ndio naanza.”
According to court documents, these posts were intentionally malicious, aiming to instill fear, create panic, and damage the reputation, professional career, and livelihood of Beth Wambui Mbuitu.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Susan Shitubi, Aoko was granted a cash bail of Ksh 100,000. However, her phones and laptops, confiscated during her arrest, remain under custody as evidence for ongoing forensic investigations.
The magistrate indicated that an application for their release would be reconsidered at a later stage during the trial.
The case is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on September 2. Aoko’s social media activity has long been controversial, marked by her outspoken tweets against prominent figures.
Before her arrest, she was a well-regarded journalist with the Standard Group, known for her fearless reporting. Her career has been fraught with risks; in 2016, she narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping after exposing corruption in Migori County.
Aoko’s commitment to journalism is rooted in her family background; her elder brother, Jectone Oyoo, is an established writer. Despite the personal risks, Aoko has remained dedicated to uncovering the truth.
Who is Maverick Aoko?
Maverick Aoko is loved and hated in equal measure thanks to her daring approach to matters affecting society.
Maverick Aoko, a journalist from Kisumu County, is widely recognized under her social media alias, Maverick Aoko Otieno.
While she is notably active on Twitter, Aoko’s professional background includes significant contributions to major brands like the Standard Group, where she wrote for the Standard Newspaper.
Her real name is Scophine Aoko Otieno, but she is better known by her social media pseudonym. Aoko’s commitment to societal change has come at a personal cost; in 2016, she narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping after exposing corruption involving employees of the Migori County government.
Aoko comes from a family of writers, with her elder brother, Jectone Oyoo, also being a seasoned author. Her fearless approach to journalism is evident in her willingness to tackle controversial issues that others might shy away from.
Additionally, she has faced threats from ex-CAS David Osiany, who threatened legal action after Aoko alleged posted a past romantic relationship with him.
