Kenya: Editor of controversial Kenyan news blog missing since September

IFEX

Reporters Without Borders  

Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the disappearance of Dickson Bogonko Bosire, the editor of the Jackal News blog, since 18 September, two days before the start of the attack on the Westgate shopping mall, in Nairobi.

His family has received no word for him for the past 26 days while his mobile phone is still on voicemail. An initial theory that he went into hiding after the site revealed the name of an International Criminal Court (ICC) witness has been ruled out by his family. The police are now investigating his disappearance.

Bogonko worked for Agence France-Presse (AFP) before launching Jackal News. The site covers stories ranging from corruption investigations to the most salacious scandals, which have got him into hot water with politicians and businessmen.

He has often been threatened by people he has criticized on his blog and has on several occasions been forced to go into hiding or flee Nairobi.

His website has been hacked into and shut down twice.

Kenya is ranked 71st out of 179 countries in the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

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