If you think you have had a bad day, spare a thought for Mvita MP Mohamed Machele.

What began as a happy moment at a wedding where he was the chief guest of honour turned into a digital headache after a photograph taken during the celebrations was altered and circulated online, portraying him as a waiter.

Mr Machele had attended the June 20 wedding of the son of Coast Regional Police Commander Ali Nuno in Nyali, Mombasa, where he posed for several photographs with other guests.

But one of the photographs later resurfaced online in an altered version that quickly went viral.
While the original showed the MP enjoying the celebrations, the doctored image depicted him in what appeared to be a waiter’s attire at the same function.

The MP learned that he was trending online after an altered photograph showing him in what appeared to be a waiter’s clothing.

Aggrieved by the photograph, Mr Machele reported the matter at Mombasa Central Police Station under OB No 49/23/7/2026.

The complaint has now escalated to court, with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations seeking orders to access and forensically examine a mobile phone belonging to the MP’s former close associate, Mr Haani Omar Swaleh.

The DCI believes the device could contain information relating to the creation and circulation of the altered photograph.

In an application filed at the Chief Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, investigators named Mr Swaleh as a respondent under investigation over the photograph which was allegedly circulated on social media, including his WhatsApp status.

According to court documents, the MP told police that he had attended the wedding as the chief guest and posed for several photographs with other guests.

He later learned that he was trending online after an altered photograph showing him in what appeared to be a waiter’s clothing was posted on various social media platforms.

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“The complainant feeling detrimentally aggrieved by the said photographs that were online and the fact that he is a public figure and a sitting Member of Parliament, reported the matter to the police,” Inspector Joseph Ngatia said in the application.

Investigators say Mr Swaleh was arrested on August 20, and an iPhone 11 seized from him.

The phone, which has two IMEI numbers, is believed to have been used in connection with the photograph, according to the court papers. An inventory was prepared following the seizure.

The DCI now wants the ATPU Forensic Unit to examine the device and extract information from WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok covering the period between June 20 and July 20, 2026.

Inspector Ngatia said the extraction would help investigators establish the circumstances surrounding the creation, alteration and circulation of the photograph.

Mombasa Central Police Station.

Photo credit: File | Nation

The investigators want the Chief Magistrate’s Court to issue a warrant allowing the forensic unit to detain, access and examine the phone and extract the relevant information.

“It is only through this order that the ATPU Forensic Unit can access, forensically examine and disclose such private information regarding the suspect's privileged information held in the said mobile phone,” Inspector Ngatia said.

The DCI also wants the forensic unit to prepare a report on the extraction for use as evidence in court and issue a certificate for the production of electronic evidence under Section 106B(4) of the Evidence Act.

Inspector Ngatia said the orders were necessary because the information sought was private and stored on the respondent’s mobile phone. He said the forensic examination would help investigators collate and verify evidence relating to the complaint.

“It is prudent that the applicant gets the extracted report and information from the ATPU Forensic Unit for evidential purposes,” he said.

The investigator said he was probing Mr Swaleh for alleged cyber harassment arising from the creation, alteration and circulation of the photograph of the MP on social media platforms.

The alleged offence falls under Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
Investigators are seeking to establish how the image was altered, who was responsible for its circulation and whether the conduct amounts to an offence under the law.

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bocharo@ke.nationmedia.com