A man accused of illegally accessing Nation Media Group (NMG) e-papers has denied the charges after doctors declared him mentally fit to stand trial.
Jackson Wangigi Kariuki entered his plea following the production of a mental health report from Arrow Medical Centre.
Kariuki first appeared in court two weeks ago alongside Calvin Kinyanjui Kung’u over allegations of hacking NMG’s e-paper products. At that time, he declined to plead, claiming he was struggling with a mental condition.
NMG, through its lawyer Kevin Okeyo, presented the report before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, confirming that Kariuki was fit to face charges. The media house opposed Kariuki’s third request for another mental evaluation, pointing out that a January 2025 assessment from Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital had already diagnosed him with a mental condition.
Mr. Onsarigo dismissed the request, noting that both Mbagathi District Hospital and Arrow Medical Centre had found Kariuki mentally sound and capable of standing trial.
The magistrate then directed the accused to take a plea, and Kariuki denied the two charges filed against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Prosecutors accuse Kariuki of distributing infringing copies, contrary to section 38(1)(c) as read with section 38(4) of the Copyright Act No. 12 of 2001, and of offering for sale infringing copies of NMG’s e-paper products.
According to the prosecution, on July 10, 2025, Kariuki unlawfully distributed infringing copies of NMG’s digital newspapers – Daily Nation, Taifa Leo, Business Daily, and The EastAfrican – through a WhatsApp group called “Daily E-paper Forum.” The DPP argued that he did so without NMG’s consent while the company still held copyright over the publications.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Wanjiru Waweru, asked the court to list the case for hearing now that the accused has been declared fit to stand trial.
Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo scheduled the matter for mention on September 25, 2025, to set the hearing dates.
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