NDIMA

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 10 January 2004, police raided news stands in major Kenyan towns and confiscated copies of newspapers published by the “alternative press”. Scores of vendors were arrested in the well-coordinated crackdown, which Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju said was aimed at getting rid of illegal newspapers. He added that the action was […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – A lobby group operating under the wing of the Catholic Church in Kenya wants three books withdrawn from the school syllabus, saying they are “morally objectionable.” The lobby group, Parent’s Caucus, claims that sections of Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe’s “A Man of the People” and S. A. Mohammed’s “Kiu” and “Kitumbua Kimeingia Mchanga” […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The “Daily Nation”, a publication of the Nation Media Group, has appealed a 28 February 2003 court decision barring it from publishing articles on Jonathan Toroitich in connection with a Kes 45 million (approx. US$585,000) tender. Toroitich is former president Moi’s eldest son. On 4 March, lawyer Githu Muigai filed an appeal with […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 4 March 2003, the Kenyan High Court halted an attempt by Nicolas Biwott to seize the printing press of “The People Daily” newspaper over a Kes 23 million (approx. US$300,000) libel award. Biwott is a former powerful cabinet minister and current opposition member of parliament. Justice Gideon Mbito stopped Eastern-Kenya Auctioneers, acting […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The following is a 24 December 2002 NDIMA press release: Nairobi, December 24 2002 On Monday 23 December 2002, public but government-controlled radio and television station, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), refused to air paid advertisements by an opposition parties coalition, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), citing orders from top government officials. NARC had […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Two journalists and a cameraman were arrested and detained for two hours on 30 November 2002. The journalists were covering a demonstration against a provincial commissioner over alleged interference in the ruling party’s nominations. A number of people were injured when police broke up the demonstration. The officers, under the command of the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – A large contingent of security officers raided the offices of Uganda’s largest independent newspaper, “The Monitor”, on 10 October 2002. The swoop by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and regular police was prompted by a story published in the 10 October edition of the newspaper about an army helicopter that allegedly […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 9 August 2002, the publisher of “Finance” magazine, Njehu Gatabaki, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment over his magazine’s coverage of ethnic clashes in Molo, Kenya, in 1997. Gatabaki is also a member of parliament for Githunguri constituency and owner of the magazine. In December 1997, the now-defunct magazine published an article […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) in Nyeri district, Central Province has banned a play, which was scheduled to be performed in the town of Nyeri on 23 and 24 March 2002. Police chief Elijah Shamalla called the play, by leading Kenyan playwright Wahome Mutahi, a “public nuisance.” He said he had received […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 22 March 2002, Nicholas Biwott, cabinet minister in the Moi government, was awarded Kes 20 million (approx. US $256,410) for defamation as the High Court slapped a stinging indictment against Kenyan media houses over “unmitigated and defenceless character assassination.” Kalamka Ltd, the publisher of “The People Daily”, was sentenced to pay Biwott […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The following is a 22 December 2001 NDIMA press release: Nairobi, December 22 2001 Attacked journalist dies, buried Ugandan journalist David Matovu, formerly working with Radio Uganda, died yesterday (December 21 2001) at Mulago Hospital, where he had been admitted after unknown attackers doused him with petrol and set him ablaze on the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The High Court in Meru in Kenya’s Eastern Province has ordered local daily “East African Standard” to pay Charles Kariuki and Company Advocates Kes 20 million (approx. US$254,000) in damages. Kariuki had sued the Standard Limited for general and special damages for defamatory statements contained in an article that appeared in “The Big […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 22 November 2001, Sudanese authorities were reported to have detained thirty journalists and other employees of an independent daily after the individuals marched to the Information Ministry to protest a decision by censors to ban the publication of a story on corruption. The thirty journalists from the daily “Al-Watan” were arrested and […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Tanzanian Inspector General of Police Omar Mahita said a leader who does not want to co-operate with journalists is unfit to lead. Speaking to journalists in the town of Mwanza, along Lake Victoria, on 12 September 2001, Mahita said public leaders were supposed to function in a transparent manner instead of running away […]