(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed a 17 January 2005 decision by Kenya’s attorney general to drop a criminal libel charge against Kamau Ngotho of the independent daily “The Standard”. The charge had been brought under a law dating back to the colonial era. “By taking this decision, Kenya proves that it is one of the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has welcomed a 17 January 2005 decision by Kenya’s attorney general to drop a criminal libel charge against Kamau Ngotho of the independent daily “The Standard”. The charge had been brought under a law dating back to the colonial era.
“By taking this decision, Kenya proves that it is one of the few countries in Africa that is determined to ensure that press freedom is respected,” RSF said. “The show of support by western embassies was exemplary and we would like to reiterate that this kind of initiative should be taken more often,” the organisation added.
The charge against Ngotho for implicating a government official and an associate of the president in alleged corruption outraged many ambassadors, who noted that the prosecution would violate certain provisions of the Constitution.
Before the decision was taken to drop the case, Ngotho had already won the right to be judged by the Constitutional Court instead of an ordinary court. He faced up to three years in prison if convicted.
