(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2000 a weekly publication was barred from publishing articles about a church bishop. The judge restrained Immediate Media Services, publishers of the “Independent”, their servants or agents from publishing articles defamatory of Bishop Arthur Kitonga of the Redeemed Gospel Church. The order was made after the bishop’s lawyer, Sarah M. […]
(NDIMA/IFEX) – On 30 August 2000 a weekly publication was barred from publishing
articles about a church bishop.
The judge restrained Immediate Media Services, publishers of the “Independent”, their servants or agents from publishing articles defamatory of Bishop Arthur Kitonga of the Redeemed Gospel Church. The order was made after the bishop’s lawyer, Sarah M. Kivuva, told the judge that the publisher had continued to publish defamatory articles about the cleric despite having been served with notice of a suit filed in court last week. Kivuva, who appeared alone in court for the inter partes, said that unless the defendants were restrained with a court order, they were likely to continue with the articles.
The suit arises from stories in the “Independent” of 18 and 25 August. Bishop Kitonga said the articles implied that the he was a criminal, had initiated a church for the sole purpose of making money, and was greedy, materialistic and a tribalist. He further said that the articles claim he was corrupt and immoral, which he said was untrue and only meant to embarrass him.
The bishop wants the court to stop the weekly from further defaming him, award him general damages, costs of the suit, interest on the damages at court rates from the time of the filing of the suit until payment in full, and any other relief the court may deem fit to grant.
