The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has faulted a Magistrate’s Court that on Monday, September 26, 2022, sentenced a Tuko.co.ke editor to six months in jail.
Nairobi Principal Magistrate Eunice Nyutu issued the sentence regarding a story about the National Youth Service (NYS) that was published on the popular online platform.
The magistrate sentenced the Tuko editor Didacus Malowa to six months in jail with an option of a fine of Ksh50,000.
But responding to the sentence, KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor said it was a blow to the quest for a just society.
The journalists’ union boss further noted that they had already notified their layers to appeal the court ruling.
“The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has instructed its lawyer to appeal the decision by Nairobi Principal Magistrate Eunice Nyutu to jail Tuko Editor Didacus Malowa for six months with an option of a fine of Ksh 50,000,” the union said in a statement posted on their website.
“While we respect the decision of the court, such retrogressive decisions have far-reaching consequences to the country’s governance, especially in the fight against corruption, which is at the centre of this matter,” it added.
Freedom of media
TUKO had published a story regarding the ongoing NYS case, and while issuing her ruling, the magistrate said it would help discourage media outlets from publishing misleading articles.
The publication’s lawyer had apologized for the story and said it was pulled down after they realized it had an error.
But according to KUJ, jailing a journalist in the 21st century is not only an assault on freedom of the media, which is well guarded by the constitution but a blow to the quest for a just society.
The union argues that the law provides for a mechanism for parties to seek redress in the event they are aggrieved by the work of journalists to protect the media industry from such assault.
