(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 July 2002, Christopher Mwoki Kyandi, publisher of and journalist with the tabloid “The Truth”, was sentenced to nine months in prison for “publishing false news”. “Without in any way endorsing this kind of media or journalism, we protest against a prison term that is completely out of proportion with the offence,” […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 July 2002, Christopher Mwoki Kyandi, publisher of and journalist with the tabloid “The Truth”, was sentenced to nine months in prison for “publishing false news”.
“Without in any way endorsing this kind of media or journalism, we protest against a prison term that is completely out of proportion with the offence,” said RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard in a letter to Attorney-General Amos Wako. He asked that the journalist be released without delay.
In early July, “The Truth” published a story describing a sexual event on its front and back pages that caused a commotion in Nairobi. A large number of people descended on the area where the alleged event supposedly took place. Police arrested the publisher and seized 200 copies of the newspaper. In an 11 July court appearance, Kyandi pleaded guilty to writing and spreading a rumour. He was convicted two weeks later and was sent to jail immediately to begin his nine-month sentence.
RSF also notes that in early June, a High Court judge banned the sale of the 3 to 9 June issue of the “Weekly Citizen” newspaper at the request of businessman Sunil Behal, who was suing the newspaper for libel (see IFEX alert of 7 June 2002). The tabloid is known for its salacious reporting.
