Kenya: Police crack down on "alternative press"
Police raided news stands in major Kenyan towns on 10 January and confiscated copies of newspapers published by the "alternative press". Scores of vendors were arrested in the well-coordinated crackdown, which Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju said was aimed at getting rid of illegal newspapers. He added that the action was taken because the newspapers had not complied with the law on "registration, execution of a bond and making returns".
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT - KENYA
12 January 2004
Police crack down on "alternative press"
SOURCE: Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA),
Nairobi
(NDIMA/IFEX) - On 10 January 2004, police raided news stands in major Kenyan
towns and confiscated copies of newspapers published by the "alternative
press".
Scores of vendors were arrested in the well-coordinated crackdown, which
Tourism and Information Minister Raphael Tuju said was aimed at getting rid
of illegal newspapers. He added that the action was taken because the
newspapers had not complied with the law on "registration, execution of a
bond and making returns". On 12 December 2003, the minister warned that a
crackdown would be carried out because the owners of the "alternative press"
had failed to respect journalistic principles with respect to balance and
fairness.
In the capital city, Nairobi, police raided at least one printing press and
confiscated newspapers rolling off the press, which would have been ready
for sale on 12 January. During the dawn raid at the "Independent"
newspaper's Immediate Press, the officers seized plates and other equipment.
The newspaper's editor, Mburu Muchoki, said that at least 15,000 copies were
impounded.
Newspapers that were confiscated include the "Independent", "Kenya
Confidential", "Citizen", "News Post", "Weekly Wembe" and "Summit". Police
also arrested "News Post" publisher Ndirangu Kariuki, but later released
him.
In the coastal town of Mombasa, police impounded bundles of the Nation Media
Group's "The Coast Express" at one news stand. Five vendors were arrested
and police said they would appear in court on 12 January. Coast Province
Criminal Investigation Officer Dida Dilicha said the crackdown on the
"gutter press" would continue.
Police also raided news stands in the towns of Nakuru and Kisumu.
For further information, contact Sam Mbure or Emily Nyanjugu Njuguna at
NDIMA, P.O. Box 70147 - 00400, Nairobi, Kenya, tel: +254 665 1118, fax: +254
665 0836, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.ndima.org
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of NDIMA.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit NDIMA.
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