On the morning of 18 January 2000, two journalists working with the Nairobi-based daily “The People” were arrested after being summoned to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.) to record statements over a story that appeared in the newspaper on 17 January about discontent among members of the armed forces. Managing Editor Vitalis […]
On the morning of 18 January 2000, two journalists working with the Nairobi-based daily “The People” were arrested after being summoned to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D.) to record statements over a story that appeared in the newspaper on 17 January about discontent among members of the armed forces.
Managing Editor Vitalis Musebe was the first one to be locked up when he voluntarily presented himself to the C.I.D. A while later, Mukalo Kwayera was also summoned to the headquarters to record a statement over the same article. The officers had said they would pick him if he did not appear before them of his own volition. He was also locked up. The two editors were expected to appear in court on 18 January, but it is not yet clear what charges will be laid against them.
The 17 January article quoted sources close to the military saying that there had been discontent and low morale in the military since November 1999, and that junior officers had threatened to stage a mutiny in December but the idea was nipped after the intelligence department came to know about the planned move. The article went on to say that because of the discontent, the military had been put on high alert and installations such as armouries, communication centres and hospitals had been put under tight protection for fear of sabotage.
