(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 21 October 1997, people believed to be security officers bought virtually all copies of the current issue of “Finance” magazine. The vendors said the buyers asked them to produce all the copies they had, paid for them in cash and loaded them into waiting vehicles. A spot check indicated that newspaper vendors […]
(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 21 October 1997, people believed to be security
officers bought virtually all copies of the current issue of
“Finance” magazine. The vendors said the buyers asked them to
produce all the copies they had, paid for them in cash and loaded
them into waiting vehicles.
A spot check indicated that newspaper vendors were not selling
copies of the magazine by 2pm and some went around searching for
extra copies. Some vendors claimed they were warned not to buy
extra stock.
An “Finance” circulation official who denied to be named said
that they had printed 4,000 copies and all had sold out.
The latest issue of “Finance” has a cover story on President
Daniel arap Moi’s son, Gideon Moi. The article is based on
serious allegations made against him by Central Bank of Kenya
lawyer Philip Murgor.
a, 35, had been reduced to destitution
after he fell sick and was hospitalised in 1996, the lawyer
added.
Makhecha said Raja’s friends were raising money for his air
ticket.
Background Information
Raja was charged on 3 October in connection with the publication
of an article he wrote entitled “The Life and Times of Joshua
Kulei” which was published in the 20 September edition of “The
Times”. The article stated that Kulei had amassed a personal
fortune that was “said to be in excess of Sh30 billion and that
he is arguably the only `zillionaire’ ever to emerge from the Moi
era.” According to the prosecution, the words were likely to
injure the reputation of Kulei by exposing him to hatred and
contempt. Several days before Raja’s arrest, Joe Karuiki,
publisher of “The Times” and “The Rift Valley”, and Joseph Agola,
director of the printing firm that prints the newspapers, were
charged with publishing a defamatory article (see IFEX alerts).
For further information, contact Sam Mbure or Emily Nyanjugu at
NDIMA, PO Box 70147, Nairobi, Kenya, tel/fax: +254 154 41403, e-
mail: ndima@arcc.or.ke.,ndima@africaonline.co.ke
