By Amin Kef Sesay
In a troubling turn of events at Kenema University, Patrick Kai, a journalist and student, finds himself entangled in a web of accusations regarding his involvement with a critical Facebook page, “Kenema Kotuku News.” The page has been vocal about issues within the institution including allegations of misconduct by lecturers and administration.
The journalist cum student, who has been active on Social Media and has engaged with the page, now faces accusations of being an admin or informant for the platform. Despite his efforts to maintain a balanced online presence by sharing positive information from the University Administration and the Student Union Government (SUG), he found himself at odds with the page when it began posting negatively. As a matter of fact he is not the founder or admin of the “Kenema Kotuku News.”
However, despite his attempts to distance himself from the page’s negative content, suspicions lingered, culminating in a confrontation with the University Registrar, John Juana, on March 30th. Patrick Kai vehemently denies the accusations, emphasizing that he was mistaken for another commenter, Samuel Swarray, the Minister of Education, who also faces suspicion.
The situation escalated when he was summoned by the Cyber Unit of the Police Force, disrupting his academic pursuits as he was detained for over four hours and had his phone seized.
Despite his cooperation, Patrick Kai remains under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the legality of the investigation and potential infringement on freedom of speech.
His ordeal has sparked wider concern about the protection of free expression particularly in academic settings. With the looming threat of repercussions on his academic standing, Patrick Kai and three other students, detained alongside him on April 16th, face an uncertain future.
As the saga unfolds, voices advocating for freedom of speech rally behind him, urging authorities to ensure that his rights are upheld and that justice prevails in this troubling episode at Kenema University.
