NDIMA

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 9 October 2000, the managing director of the embattled Kameme 101.1 FM radio station told a press conference in Nairobi that the station has instituted legal action for defamation against a monthly newspaper, “Expression Today”, published by the Media Institute. Rose Kimotho told journalists that she had instructed her lawyers, Kaplan & […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 9 October 2000, the managing director of the Nairobi-based Kameme FM station, Rose Kimotho, denied that the radio station had a political agenda and insisted that her firm was purely a commercial enterprise out to tap a specific niche in the market. Kimotho was reacting to President Moi’s Sunday 8 October attack […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 8 October 2000, President Daniel arap Moi repeated his threat to ban vernacular radio stations. In doing so, he contradicted his information minister, Musalia Mudavadi, who four days previously ruled out a ban, saying the stations only faced tighter regulations. President Moi said that unless the stations change and “become transparent”, they […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On Sunday 8 October 2000, a Nation TV crew was attacked by unknown individuals in Nairobi. Cameraman Eric Okoth and reporter Sarah Kimani had just finished covering a prayer meeting by the Mungiki sect when they were attacked as they were leaving. Okoth was beaten by the attackers, who also stole his wrist […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On the night of Saturday 7 October 2000, journalists were barred from covering an opposition party’s preselection fund-raising event held in Kisumu, a town in the western part of Kenya. National Development Party (NDP) officials standing by the gate of Tom Mboya Labour College, the venue of the event, told journalists that they […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The Tanzanian government has banned a gospel cassette by evangelist Faustin Munishi, a Tanzanian based in Kenya. The government argues that the cassette, titled “Mpende Adui” (Love the Enemy), has political sentiments. On Friday 22 September 2000, evangelist Munishi said in Nairobi that his life was in danger following the ban. He said […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Malawian President Bakili Muluzi has sued a newspaper for publishing a story that claims he masterminded a US$2 million government corruption scheme. Muluzi has asked his private lawyer, Shabbir Latif, to sue the weekly “Chronicle” on the grounds that the story was unfounded, scandalous and defamatory. On Monday 18 September 2000, the “Chronicle” […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Officials of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) have raided Reuters offices and confiscated satellite communications equipment. The CCK officials, who were accompanied by Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers, descended on the Reuters offices in Nairobi on Friday 22 September 2000 at about 10:00 a.m. (local time). The officers said they were disabling […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2000, Kenya’s President Daniel arap Moi warned private vernacular radio stations to broadcast in the two national languages (Kiswahili and English) and subsequently directed the Minister of Information, Transport and Communication, Musalia Mudavadi, and the Attorney-General, Amos Wako, to liaise to ensure the requirement is effected. The president noted that […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2000 a weekly publication was barred from publishing articles about a church bishop. The judge restrained Immediate Media Services, publishers of the “Independent”, their servants or agents from publishing articles defamatory of Bishop Arthur Kitonga of the Redeemed Gospel Church. The order was made after the bishop’s lawyer, Sarah M. […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On Thursday 3 August 2000, Cabinet Minister Nicholas Biwott won a libel suit against “The People Daily”. The high court ruled that the paper is liable to the tourism, trade and industry minister for defamation, following the publication of an article in March 1999 that he claims falsely portrayed him as corrupt. At […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Two policemen assaulted a journalist working for the “Nation” newspaper on 9 May 2000. They destroyed his camera and threatened to shoot him. Victor Nzuma was attacked while taking pictures of the policemen arresting shareholders of a company named Mavoloni Company Limited. The journalist was almost run over by a speeding vehicle as […]

On Wednesday 1 March 2000, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) was ordered to restore frequencies it had withdrawn from Royal Media to operate radio services. The company had appealed against the Tuesday 29 February ruling in a suit involving the communications body. Justice Kassanga Mulwa granted the company a mandatory injunction, requiring the CCK […]

On 29 February 2000, Royal Media services, the parent company of Citizen radio, lost its bid to have Telkom Kenya, the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) and Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) reconnect power to its transmitters in Londiani, Nyeri and Nyambene. Justice Kasanga Mulwa, who heard the case, said Royal Media had failed to show […]

**Updates IFEX alerts of 18 January 2000** (NDIMA/IFEX) – The hearing of a case against two senior journalists, Vitalis Musebe and Mukalo Kwayera, former managing editor and news editor, respectively, of the “People” daily, was due to start on 18 February 2000. It has been deferred to 20 March. Background Information The two journalists were […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Royal Media Services, the parent company of the newly-launched broadcasting station Citizen Radio licence to operate a radio station was cancelled by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) last week, has gone to court seeking to have the CCK and its parent company, Telkom Kenya, ordered to reconnect power and restore the frequencies […]