Kenya

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 28 July 1998, two people believed to be plainclothes policemen attempted to impound copies of a bi-weekly Nairobi newspaper, “The Star”, and threatened to shoot a staff photographer who took photographs during the incident. **For background, see IFEX alerts of 24, 23, 17, 15 and 14 July 1998** Sources said the two […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 24 July 1998, ARTICLE 19 sent the following letter to His Excellency President Daniel Arap Moi, Office of the President, Nairobi, Kenya: **For background information, see IFEX alerts 23, 17, 15 and 14 July 1998** ARTICLE 19, the International Centre Against Censorship, is greatly concerned about the recent decision of Kenya’s […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Two Kenyan magazines and one bi-weekly newspaper that were recently threatened by the registrar general’s refusal to register them are now in circulation. “The Star”, “The Post on Sunday” and “Finance” magazine were on sale in the streets of Nairobi on 21 July 1998, although vendors expressed fear over harassment and possible confiscation […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 16 July 1998, the High Court in Kakamega (in western Kenya) ordered Police Commissioner Duncan Wachira to impound editions of “Finance” magazine, which is published by Opposition politician Njehu Gatabaki. Resident judge Barabara Tanui directed that the Commissioner or his representatives should keep in police custody any issue or editions of “Finance” […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 16 July 1998, the “Star” editor-in-chief Magayu K. Magayu said that the bi-weekly newspaper has not been banned, contrary to recent reports in the media. Mr. Magayu said the paper did not require registration and had complied with the necessary qualifications befitting an ordinary newspaper. **Updates IFEX alerts of 15 and 14 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – According to information made available by RSF on 15 July 1998, on 10 July the licences of “Finance” magazine, “The Post on Sunday” and “The Star” were withdrawn by the Registrar General, Omoni Mbago. These three newspapers are fairly critical towards the government of President Daniel Arap Moi and the leaders of Kenya. […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, on 13 July 1998, Star Publishers Limited went to the High Court seeking to quash the Registrar-General’s recent decision rejecting the registration of the bi-weekly newspaper “The Star.” They also want the registrar and the commissioner of police to be prohibited from interfering with or stopping the printing, publication and […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Siad Wabera, a journalist for the “Daily Nation” who is based in Marsabit, in North Eastern Province, has been receiving telephone calls from anonymous people threatening him with death. “We know who you are, we shall deal with you shortly. You must know what you should write and what you should not”, one […]

(IPI/IFEX) – On 10 July 1998, the Registrar-General rejected registration of the newspapers “The Star”, “Finance” and “The Post on Sunday” “under the provisions of the Books and Newspapers Act (cap 111)”. Although the Act is only a recording statute and does not concern acceptance or rejection of any publications, the denial of registration of […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 10 July 1998, Mr. Imanene Imathiu, a correspondent for “Nation”, Kenya’s leading English-language daily, which is based in Meru (in Eastern Province, northeast of Nairobi) was treated at a local district hospital for injuries sustained following a beating. Imathiu had been investigating allegations of corruption in an administration police camp. His camera […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Members of the opposition National Development Party(NDP), which has recently established a working relationship with the ruling KANU party, have threatened to hamper the commercial activities of, or start hostilities against Nation Newspapers Ltd after accusing the group’s newspapers of engaging in a smear campaign against their party and its leader. According to […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – Patrick Mayoyo, Mombasa correspondent for “The Nation” newspaper, reports having received threats from people suspected to be involved in a story he had written about corrupt practices in the government customs department. Mayoyo, whose reports on the affair have led to widespread investigations in which senior customs officers and clearing and forwarding agents […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – The editor of a Nairobi weekly magazine “Post on Sunday”, Tony Gachoka, locked himself up in his office to avoid being arrested by police on 8 July 1998. About ten plainclothes policemen had visited Gachoka’s office at about 10 am. Gachoka said that he and his lawyer, Philip Murgor, had talked to the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – According to NDIMA, a freelance journalist has been stopped from publishing articles or information on three brothers. On 2 July 1998, the High Court sitting in Nairobi directed that the order remain in force until the suit filed by the brothers, Mr. Gideon Kaburu Mwobobia, Mr. John Karimu, and Mr. Erastus Mwongera, against […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 1 July 1998, the Kenya High Court, sitting in Nairobi, restrained “The Post on Sunday” magazine from publishing any matter touching on Nairobi businessman Joshua Kulei. The interim injunction was issued by High Court judge Roselyn Nambuye after Kulei’s advocate, Simon Chepsiror Lilan, successfully applied for the injunction. The court ordered the […]

(NDIMA/IFEX) – “The Star” newspaper editor Magayu Magayu and managing director of Star Publishers Limited Francis Mathenge Wanderi were arraigned in a Nairobi court on 29 June 1998 and charged with publishing an “alarming” publication. The editors also face two other charges of failing to execute bonds for printing and publishing. They denied all the […]