Two men have been arraigned in a Nairobi court for allegedly hacking Nation Media Group’s (NMG) e-paper platform and illegally distributing its digital newspapers.
The suspects, Jackson Wangigi Kariuki and Calvin Kinyanjui Kung’u, appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo facing charges related to digital piracy and copyright infringement.
According to prosecutors, the duo ran a WhatsApp group dubbed “Daily E-Papers Forum,” where they sold pirated copies of the Daily Nation, Taifa Leo, Business Daily, and The EastAfrican without NMG’s authorization.
Charges and Court Proceedings
- Kariuki was accused of distributing the publications between June 3 and July 10. His lawyer objected to the plea, claiming he suffers from a mental condition and requested a psychiatric evaluation. The court ordered that he undergo tests at Mbagathi Hospital, with the report expected on August 27.
- Kung’u faced two counts of unauthorized distribution. He pleaded not guilty and was released on a Sh500,000 bond or Sh100,000 cash bail. His case will proceed to pre-trial directions on September 8, 2025.
Witnesses
Among the key witnesses expected to testify is Samuel Koskei, NMG’s Chief Security Officer, who will shed light on the alleged hacking and illegal circulation of copyrighted e-papers.
