4 October 1997

Alert

Journalists detained and questioned over source of photo


Incident details

Peter Kimani, Pharis Chege

journalist(s)

detained


(NDIMA/IFEX) - On 3 October 1997, a Criminal Investigation
Department (CID) officer briefly arrested the editor of a rural
newspaper, "Maarifa". This monthly publication, produced by
Information Ministry personnel, circulates in Central Province of
Kenya. "Maarifa" published a photograph of the bullet-riddled
body of top criminal Bernard Matheri alias 'Rasta'in the latest
issue of the paper with a lead story headlined: "Who betrayed
'Rasta' to the police?"




David Njiru went to the offices of the paper and ordered Peter
Kimani and reporter Pharis Chege to accompany him to his office,
where he interrogated them for about an hour over the source of
the photograph. The officer told journalists: "I am not taking
this issue lightly and I want to know where you got the
photograph and I am serious about it."

As he was questioning the two in his office, other journalists
went in and heard Njiru say: "You must tell me why you stole my
exhibit from my office, for I am the only person who had the
photograph. You must be careful because someone will get sacked
for this." Njiru said the photograph had been obtained from an
inquest file in his house. Njiru told the journalists that they
had betrayed him because "I had earlier on refused to release
this photograph to you". As he took down details of the editor,
the CID boss threatened "I will lock you up and I am not joking
about it."

The journalists maintained that the photograph was obtained from
a source and published with the consent of the local police boss,
Bernard Mucheke. Njiru released the journalists. Contacted
later, Mucheke said he would investigate the arrests.





Source:

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