Kenya: Journalist sentenced to nine months' imprisonment
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN has condemned the custodial sentence handed down to Christopher Mwoki Kyandi on 24 July on charges of "publishing false news". The editor of the scandal magazine The Truth was given a nine-month prison sentence on the basis of a sex-related article published in early July which caused a furore in the capital Nairobi.
RAPID ACTION NETWORK
31 July 2002
Kenya: Journalist sentenced to nine months' imprisonment
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN condemns the custodial sentence handed down to Christopher Mwoki Kyandi on 24 July 2002 on charges of "publishing false news".
The editor of the scandal magazine The Truth was given a nine-month prison sentence on the basis of a sex-related article published in early July which caused a furore in the capital Nairobi. On 11 July Kyandi admitted in court that what he had written was merely a rumour and pleaded guilty as charged.
Whilst International PEN does not in any way condone the dubious journalism evidently practised in this instance by Kyandi, it reconfirms its view that custodial sentences for such misdemeanours are wholly inappropriate and out of all proportion to the offence committed. PEN calls upon the Kenyan authorities to release Christopher Mwoki Kyandi. It also adds its support to the Kenyan Union of Journalists (KUJ) in their appeal for the offence of criminal libel to be abolished under the new Kenyan constitution.
Please send appeals:
- Calling for the release Christopher Mwoki Kyandi;
- Urging the Kenyan authorities to abolish the offence of criminal libel.
Appeals to:
President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi Harambee House Office of the President P.O. Box 30510 Nairobi Kenya e-mail: [email protected] The Right Honourable Amos Wako Attorney-General Nairobi Kenya c/o Permanent Representative to UN Fax: +1 212 486 1985 Email: [email protected] Kenyan Embassy
2249 R. Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20008, U.S.A.
Fax: +1 202 462 3829 Other action Centres might also like to consider electing Chrstopher Mwoki Kyandi as an honorary member.
For further details contact Dixe Wills at the Writers in Prison Committee London Office: 9-10 Charterhouse Buildings, London EC1M 7AT UK Tel: + 44 (0)
20 72 53 32 26 Fax: + 44 (0) 20 72 53 57 11 e-mail: [email protected] Dixe Wills Africa and Americas Researcher Writers in Prison Committee International PEN