Two people were on Monday charged with hacking Nation Media Group’s (NMG) e-paper platform and illegally offering digital copies of the newspaper for sale.
Jackson Wangigi Kariuki and Calvin Kinyanjui Kung’u appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo accused of distributing pirated copies of the Daily Nation , Taifa Leo , Business Daily and The EastAfrican .
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga, through a prosecuting counsel, told the court that NMG Plc holds the copyright authority to sell its products digitally. He said the two had no permission from the media house to distribute the publications.
The accused were separately charged with offering for sale NMG’s e-paper products through their WhatsApp group called “Daily E-Papers Forum.”
Jackson Wangigi Kariuki (left) and Calvin Kinyanjui Kung'u at the Milimani law court on August 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
Kariuki was charged with distributing NMG publications contrary to Section 38 (1)(c) as read with Section 38 (4) of the Copyright Act No. 12 of 2001.
He was accused of offering the publications for sale between June 3 and July 10, 2025, at an unknown location within Kenya.
Before Kariuki could respond to the charges, his lawyer raised an objection claiming his client has a mental condition and required psychiatric evaluation.
The prosecutor requested that the accused be escorted by police to Mbagathi Hospital for mental examination with a report to be filed by August 27, 2025. The court directed that Kariuki will either take plea or be discharged based on the hospital’s findings.
Kung’u faced similar charges of distributing NMG’s products without authorisation. He denied the two counts filed against him and applied to be released on bail. The prosecution did not oppose his application.
He was accused of using his WhatsApp account to circulate the publications between June 23 and July 10, 2025.
In a brief ruling, Magistrate Onsaringo granted Kung’u a bond of Sh500,000 with one surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Sh100,000.
The magistrate directed the prosecution to supply the accused with witness statements and exhibits to enable him to prepare his defence.
Kung’u will return to court on September 8 for pre-trial directions. Among the witnesses lined up by the DPP to testify against him is NMG’s Chief Security Officer Samuel Koskei.
Meanwhile, the magistrate ordered that Kariuki be remanded in custody until August 27 when his mental assessment report will be presented in court.
