(NDIMA/IFEX) – A Nakuru publisher and a director of a printing firm which prints “The Times” and “Rift Valley Times” newspapers appeared in a Nakuru court on 2 October 1997 after being charged with publishing a defamatory article. Joe Kariuki, publisher of “The Times” and “The Rift Valley”, and Techno Press director Joseph Agola denied […]
(NDIMA/IFEX) – A Nakuru publisher and a director of a printing
firm which prints “The Times” and “Rift Valley Times” newspapers
appeared in a Nakuru court on 2 October 1997 after being charged
with publishing a defamatory article. Joe Kariuki, publisher of
“The Times” and “The Rift Valley”, and Techno Press director
Joseph Agola denied the charge before Nakuru chief magistrate
William Tuiyot.
**Updates IFEX alert of 1 October 1997**
The two are charged with unlawfully publishing an article in the
20 September edition of “The Times”, entitled “The life and Times
of Joshua Kulei”, with intent to defame. The charge said the duo
printed words to the effect that “his personal fortune is said to
be in excess of Sh30 billion and that the 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.
The magistrate released the men on a Sh300,000 bond each with a
surety of similar amount. He set the case for mention on 15
October and fixed the hearing for 10 December 10.
Freelance journalist Raja Krishna, who had been arrested along
with Kariuki on 28 September, did not appear in court. Agola was
arrested on 30 September, and taken to the CID offices where he
was being held.
