KUJ to appeal court decision to fine Tuko Editor for misreporting NYS graft case

Magistrate Eunice Nyutu sentenced the Tuko editor to six months in jail or pay a fine of Ksh 50,000, insisting that the story had damaged the reputation of the witness and that publishing a defamatory story is punishable by law. 

The magistrate, despite the editor apologizing to the court saying that they pulled down the article, argued that the sentence will serve as a warning to other Journalists against misreporting.

KUJ Secretary General Erick Oduor, in a statement on Monday, condemned the court's decision noting that the journalist was sentenced without being offered a chance to defend himself.

Mr Oduor further argued that jailing a journalist is an infringement of their rights to media freedom as the constitution provides procedures to be followed whenever one is afflicted by reports from the media.

"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," he said.

"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 Fourth Estate from such assault. It is incumbent on Courts to strictly adhere to these mechanisms and procedures to ensure the rule of law and democratic governance prevails."

Meanwhile, Tuko has since confirmed to Citizen Digital that the Editor has since been released from custody after the media outlet paid the Ksh.50,000 fine.