Jeff Koinange arrested, expected in court
Television talk show host Jeff Koinange was arrested Tuesday morning outside his house and is expected to be arraigned before Milimani magistrate.
The Daily Nation reporter Paul Ogemba says Koinange drove himself to Milimani Law Courts with uniformed police officers inside his car and was taken to the prosecution’s office for processing.
Last week, a Nairobi court issued a warrant of arrest against journalist Mr Koinange and businessman Tony Gachoka for disobeying its orders. On Monday, the two failed to stop the execution of the arrest warrants.
Mr Gachoka is still at large. Nairobi Senior Resident Magistrate Maisy Chesang issued the arrest order after Mr Koinange and Mr Gachoka failed to appear in court to answer charges of discussing the conduct of a company in the media despite a court order barring the same.
The offence was allegedly committed on ‘Jeff Koinange Live’ show that the journalist hosts on Kenya Television Network (KTN).
WARRANT OF ARREST
“A warrant of arrest is issued against the two respondents for failing to honour the summons to appear in court. The warrant will be effected through the complainants’ advocates,” ruled the magistrate.
The decision was a result of a complaint by businessman Jimi Wanjigi, Mr Sani Mbui Wanjigi and Kwacha Group of Companies Limited.
They had obtained orders on March 20 barring Mr Koinange, KTN and the Standard Media Group from broadcasting or publishing alleged defamatory statements concerning them and the company.
Despite serving the order, the three complained that Mr Koinange invited Mr Gachoka on his show on April 1 and went ahead to discuss what they were barred from broadcasting.
According to their lawyer Nicholas Nyamai, the broadcast has caused the company massive losses and undermined the court’s authority.
He wants the company paid a total of Sh60 million as compensation for defamation.