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 […]