Kenyan police have arrested a man accused of blackmailing gay men.

On Monday (6 May), suspect Hillary Oleshawa was arrested in a Nairobi downtown bar following a tip off from local gay activists.

He is accused of luring unsuspecting gay men on the promise of a date online, abducting them and extorting money and property.

By threatening to reveal their sexuality to their friends and family, he allegedly forced his victims to give him money in exchange for their freedom.

As reported by Identity Kenya, Oleshawa allegedly used Facebook and other gay dating sites such as Gaydar, Gay Kenya, Gay Romeo and Manjam to target his victims.

An 18-year-old was the latest victim to have been allegedly blackmailed by Oleshawa.

Last month, he claims he went to Oleshawa’s house in Dandora, was tied down and threatened with violence if he did not give him 1,000 shillings ($12, â‚¬9).

Oleshawa, as well as two other men, are reported to have been working with corrupt police officers to obtain guns and crude weapons.

This is the second arrest of a man in connection with blackmailing gay men.

In early February, a suspect accused of extorting, humiliating and even raping his victims was arrested. According to gay activists, he was reported to have bribed police and was later released.

The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) say these incidents of blackmail are growing, stating extortion is one of the biggest crimes facing gay Kenyans today.

GALCK’s legal officer Anthony Olouch said: ‘Blackmail and extortion is illegal in Kenya and LGBTI people should not hesitate to report such cases.

‘A blackmail case shall be treated as such regardless of the circumstances that landed you in the hand of the blackmailers.’

In Kenya, blackmail or extortion is punishable for up to 14 years imprisonment.

Gay sex is also illegal in Kenya, also punishable for up to 14 years in jail.