Court bars Kimaiyo from summoning KTN scribes

By KURIAN MUSA

Nairobi, Kenya: The High Court has granted interim conservatory orders restraining Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo from arresting KTN journalists who aired an exposé on the recent Westgate Mall terrorist attack.

Two petitioners had moved to court challenging the decision by Kimaiyo to issue summons to the two Standard Group journalists and the group chief executive.

The interim order will last for 14 days awaiting the hearing of the petition filed under a certificate of urgency before Justice Isaac Lenaola.

Lenaola certified the petition by Brian Weke and Japhet Muniira Muroko as urgent together with affidavits. 

The applicants obtained conservatory orders to restrain the IG and the District Criminal Investigating Officer Kilimani Police Station from issuing threats to the journalists.

THE EXPOSÉS

On October 24, Kimaiyo issued summons to journalists John Allan Namu and Mohamed Ali as well as Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei on claims that the exposé by the two scribes was propagandistic and could incite the public to violence. The documentaries were Zilizala la Westage under KTN’s popular Jicho Pevu programme, and its English equivalent, Wolves at Westgate, under the Inside Story series.  He said the summons was an imposition to interpret the constitutional mandate of the media in carrying out of their work and enjoyment of Articles 32, 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution.