This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
On August 7, 2020, the Milimani Commercial Court in Nairobi issued a ruling that found Nation Media Group guilty of contempt of court for airing 'prohibited content' despite a court order to the contrary.
Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. D. O. Mbeja delivered the ruling, which stated that the defendant, Nation Media Group, and its agents, Emmanuel Juma and Edmond Nyabola, were guilty of wilful disobedience of the court order.
The court order was issued on October 1, 2019, in civil suit number 7192 of 2019 filed by the Child Welfare Society of Kenya. The plaintiff sought orders to sentence the two Nation Media Group journalists for contempt of court.
The court found that the defendant was duly informed and served with the court order on time, and that the conduct of the defendant was calculated to undermine judicial authority, the rule of law, and the administration of justice.
The maximum penalty for disobeying court orders is six months' imprisonment without an option of fine. However, the court may opt to punish the defendant through a fine, depending on the mitigation by the defendant.
Emmanuel Juma and Edmond Nyabola will appear before the court for mitigation and sentencing.
