NDIMA

On 25 January 2000, the newly-launched Citizen radio was ordered to stop broadcasting after the recently-established Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) cancelled its frequency licences. The radio was broadcast in four regions of the country namely Nyambene, Rongai, Nyahururu and Nanyuki. The CCK accused the Royal Media, the parent company of Citizen radio and television, […]

Berhanu Liyew, the Ethiopian journalist who was arrested by police last week outside the offices of the International Organisation for Immigration is still detained by police. Although he has been taken to court several times since his arrest, the case has not been heard. Recommended Action Send appeals to authorities: – requesting that they intervene […]

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 15 January 2000, two Nairobi-based journalists were assaulted and robbed during a violent confrontation between University of Nairobi students and an armed gang. Jackson Ngugi, a photographer for the “East African Standard”, was hit with a stone and sustained serious injuries, while Stephen Mwei, who works for the Nation Media Group TV, was robbed […]

On Thursday 13 January 2000, Berhanu Liyew, one of a dozen or so Ethiopian journalists in Nairobi receiving support from NDIMA, was arrested by police at the office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Liyew was taken to Kileleshwa Police Station where he was locked up. On Friday 14 January, Sam Mbure, NDIMA’s programme […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 5 October 1999, the East African Television Network Limited (EATN) lost its bid in the High Court, which sought to compel the Kenya Post and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) to restore television and radio frequencies cancelled on 15 April 1998. The court also declined to order KPTC from granting the frequencies to another […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Three editors of the “Weekly Citizen” publication who were arrested in Nairobi on Wednesday 18 August 1999 were arraigned in court on Friday 20 August, charged with publishing without executing a printer’s bond. Tom Oscar Alwaka, Jospeh Omyanje Amusala and John Wafula Nang’ole appeared before Nairobi Chief Magistrate Uniter Kidullah and denied the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On Friday 20 August 1999, the publisher of “The Post on Sunday” magazine, Anthony Muiruri Gachoka, was jailed for six months, without the option of a fine, for contempt of court. **Updates IFEX alerts of 16 July, 24 February, 17 February and 16 February 1999** Gachoka’s publishing firm, The Post Ltd., was fined […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – A three-man “People Daily” crew narrowly escaped death on 3 August 1999 when over fifty coffee farm workers, administration staff and security guards, armed with daggers, crowbars, whips and assorted farm implements, beat them up while they were on an assignment at the company’s headquarters in the Kiambu District of central Kenya. Photographer […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – In a Nairobi court on 22 July 1999, the editor-in-chief of the “Concord Weekly” denied charges of publishing a newspaper without executing a bond. Matiko Bohoko, arraigned before Kibera Resident Magistrate Stephen Githinji, was, however, released on a Sh80,000 (approx. US$1,085) bond with a surety of the same amount. The court heard that […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Mohammed Sheikh, a journalist working for “The People” daily newspaper, and based in Garissa, a town in Kenya’s Eastern Province, was arrested and detained at a police station on Thursday 10 June 1999 for what the police termed “publishing an alarming article.” He was released on bond on 14 June after admitting to […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Mohammed Sheikh, a journalist working for “The People” daily newspaper, was arrested and detained at a police station on Thursday 10 June 1999 for what the police termed “publishing an alarming article.” The journalist was picked up by police at about 11 a.m. (local time) in Garissa, a town in Kenya’s Eastern Province, […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 9 March 1999, a journalist working with the “People” daily, and based in Kitale town in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, was charged in court with writing an alarming story. Johann Wandetto was arrested in the early hours of 8 March and locked up at the Kitale Police Station. Wandetto was […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Tony Gachoka, the editor and publisher of the “Sunday Post” who fled the country on Monday 15 February 1999, is in London. ** Updates IFEX alerts of 17 February and 16 February 1999. For background on cases involving Gachoka see IFEX alerts of 23 July, 15 July, 10 July and 3 July 1998** […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Journalists who write reports which tarnish the names of politicians will be beaten, Kenyan government Assistant Minister Fidelis Gumo has warned. ** Updates IFEX alert of 16 February 1999** On Saturday 20 February 1999, the minister described a section of Luhya (one of the tribes in Kenya) journalists as a “big let down”. […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The publisher of the “Post on Sunday” weekly, Tony Gachoka, has fled Kenya. Gachoka fled on Monday, 15 February 1999, after the Attorney-General, Amos Wako, went to court to seek leave to institute criminal contempt proceedings and have Gachoka jailed. **Updates IFEX alert of 16 February 1999** Wako’s urgent application, heard on the […]