(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned a 24 September 2004 attack on two alternative newspapers, the “Weekly Citizen” and “The Independent”, in Nairobi. The newspapers were attacked by a gang of masked gunmen claiming to be police officers who ransacked the papers’ offices, confiscated material and threatened staff. “We call on the Kenyan authorities to identify […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned a 24 September 2004 attack on two alternative newspapers, the “Weekly Citizen” and “The Independent”, in Nairobi. The newspapers were attacked by a gang of masked gunmen claiming to be police officers who ransacked the papers’ offices, confiscated material and threatened staff.
“We call on the Kenyan authorities to identify the individuals who carried out these raids, which have no place in a democracy,” RSF said. “It is especially serious if it is confirmed that they were police raids, and the government will have to punish those responsible and compensate the newspapers.”
Computers, diskettes, scanners, printers and other office equipment were seized during the raids, which were carried out by about 10 men while about 10 others guarded the entrances. “Weekly Citizen” marketing director Moses Musyoka said the men claimed to be police officers but did not produce any identification or search warrant.
When “Weekly Citizen” editor-in-chief Tom Alwaka arrived at his newspaper’s offices, the commando had already left. Alwaka was told at the central police station that the raid was carried out by the administrative police. The police force and its criminal investigation unit denied any of their own officers were involved.
Alwaka told reporters that he received anonymous phone calls last week asking if his newspaper intended to publish a story on the Ndung’u Land Commission Report, a confidential report submitted to the president on possible irregularities in land allocation. The report was to have been made public on 24 September.
Alwaka said the anonymous caller wanted to arrange a meeting at a Nairobi hotel and offered him US$25,000 if he would refrain from publishing the report. Alwaka said he had never published anything on the issue and was not planning to do so.
