There is a law from colonial days that has remained in the constitution and this week the Kibaki administration took full advantage of it. The entire Weekly Citizen staff were charged with publishing an alarming report. All 11 of them -- the accountants, the messengers, the whole lot. Except the senior editors and some reporters who are still at large, including Tom Alwaka, the Chief Editor himself. Only 7 appeared in court yesterday (Wednesday February 22nd). A warrant of arrest has been issued for the other four.
The 7 were released on a bond of Kshs 100,000 each. The hearing has been set for May 9th 2006.
43 vendors who were also arrested for selling the newspapers have been behind bars for 3 days and yesterday were set free without being charged. Reading between the lines, the whole objective was just to intimidate the poor newspaper vendors so that they’ll be frightened to sell the next issue of the Weekly Citizen.
The whole idea is a damage control strategy to rein in the vibrant alternative press which has been on overdrive since the sensational Anglo-leasing bombshell first hit the streets some weeks back.
Yet another Narc election promise – freedom of the press - has gone up in smoke.
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