Man in Court Over Distribution of Newspapers via WhatsApp
A man has been charged with distributing pirated digital newspapers via WhatsApp, appearing before the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi.
Antony Mwanzia Kimeu, facing two counts of intellectual property theft, denied the charges related to the unlawful distribution and sale of copyrighted material belonging to Nation Media Group PLC. The publications in question include Daily Nation, Taifa Leo, Business Daily, and The East African.
The alleged offences occurred between 23 June and 10 July 2025. Prosecutors claim Kimeu used a WhatsApp account linked to a Safaricom number to share the pirated copies, in violation of Section 38 of the Copyright Act, which prohibits the distribution of copyrighted works without the consent of the rights holder.
Kimeu pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Teresia Nyangena granted him bail, setting bond at Sh500,000 or a cash alternative of Sh200,000. The case is scheduled for mention on 7 March 2026 to allow for pre-trial directions.
Nation Media Group, represented by Samuel Kosgei, is the complainant in the case. Six witnesses, including police officers and company officials, are expected to testify against Kimeu.
