“The People” office petrol-bombed
A gang of about eight people threw four petrol bombs into the compound of the Nairobi weekly newspaper “The People”, situated along Waiyaki Way in Westlands area, on 18 September 1996 shortly after midnight. The bombs exploded after hitting the wall and window of the accounts office but did not cause any major damage. Two […]
Fotoform printing house bombed
On 27 August 1996, the premises of Fotoform Printers in Westlands, Nairobi were bombed; however, no substantial damage was done. According to the 30 August edition of the weekly “The People”, which is printed by Fotoform, the gas used in the bombing was contained in two plastic cans which were placed at the rear basement […]
Copies of play burned during religious demonstration
Two plays about AIDS awareness were among the several items burned during a religious demonstration against the introduction of sex education in Kenyan schools. On 31 August 1996, hundreds of Catholic youth, led by Catholic Church Cardinal Maurice Otunga, marched through the streets of Nairobi. The marchers ended up at Uhuru Park, where the protest […]
Minister threatens to lock out print media
On 20 August 1996, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs and International Co- operation Minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, was reported by the “East African Standard” (the second largest selling English daily in Kenya) as having said he would no longer be granting interviews to the print media because of the role they have played in fanning the constitutional reform […]
Minister criticises paper
Kenya’s Minister for Home Affairs and Nation Heritage, Francis Lotoda, has criticised a Sunday newspaper, “Sunday Standard”, for a report which appeared in its 18 August 1996 edition. The report said the Minister had denied child prostitution existed in Kenya. In its front-page story, the “Sunday Standard” quoted the Minister as having said “Child prostitution […]
“Nation” photographer briefly detained while covering release of jailed members of advocacy group
On 6 August 1996, twenty one jailed members of the Release Political Prisoners (RPP) advocacy group were released on bail. Govedi Astusta, a photographer from Kenya’s leading daily “The Nation” who was covering the release, was arrested by prison guards and his camera was confiscated. The photographer was arrested while attempting to capture pictures of […]
Court rejects application for release on bail of writer and politician Koigi wa Wamwere
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 24 and 17 July, 14 February 1996 and 4 October 1995** On 26 July 2996, the High Court sitting in Nakuru rejected an application by Mirugi Kariuki, the lawyer for detained writer and politician Koigi wa Wamwere, to have his client, along with co- accused G.G. Njuguna Ngengi and Charles Kuria […]
Bail hearing for detained writer and politician Koigi wa Wamwere delayed
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 17 July, 14 February 1996 and 4 October 1995** The bail hearing for detained politician, writer and human rights activist Koigi wa Wamwere and his co-accused has been delayed until 26 July 1996. The hearing, to take place in Nakuru in front of Resident Judge David Rimita, was originally scheduled for […]
Koigi wa Wamwere’s health deteriorating; decision due on application for release on bail pending appeal
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 14 February 1996 and 4 October 1995** NDIMA reported on 13 July 1996 that jailed politician, human rights activist and writer Koigi wa Wamwere’s health has deteriorated. On several court appearances, wa Wamwere has claimed the government wants to kill him and his co-accused through poor diet and denial of medical […]
Journalists assaulted while investigating incident at British High Commission
On 27 June 1996, several journalists were assaulted at the British High Commission offices in Nairobi. Security guards punched and kicked journalists from the “East African Standard” and “Nation” newspapers who had gone to the offices to investigate claims by visa seekers that there were excessive delays in the issuing of visas. The incident left […]
Editor and Member of Parliament Njehu Gatabaki (m) to appear in court on sedition charges
On 14 May 1996, Njehu Gatabaki, chief editor of the Kenyan independent monthly magazine “Finance,” and a Member of Parliament, was arrested by at least 20 police officers at the roadside near his house in the Lavington district of Nairobi. He was released on bail on 22 May, without charge. Police had issued a warrant […]
Six journalists beaten
On 10 August 1995, plainclothes police, youth-wingers from the ruling Kenyan African National Union (KANU) party, and riot police beat six journalists and two other travellers. The journalists were attacked while covering a visit by Richard Leakey, Secretary General of the soon-to-be SAFINA party, to the Nakuru magistrate’s court where detained human rights activist Koigi […]
BBC news items censored by KBC
Reports indicate that the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) on several occasions has tampered, without authorization, with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) news items about Kenya that Minister of Information Johnstone Makau claims discredit the government. The BBC contracted with the KBC to re-broadcast its world television news on KBC stations. The contract between the BBC and […]
“Finance Magazine” resumes publication after February attack on offices
**Updates IFEX CH alert dated 3 February 1995** The IFJ reports that “Finance Magazine”, whose offices were attacked on 1 February 1995, is publishing as usual again. It has apparently not been harassed in its operations since and is putting a magazine on the market at regular intervals.
“Finance Magazine” offices set on fire
Source: Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA), Nairobi On 1 February, two armed men burst into the office of the “Finance Magazine”, owned by Githunguri Member of Parliament Njehu Gatabaki, doused it in petrol and set it ablaze. The reception area, a fax machine, a typewriter and some office furniture were […]