May 30, 1974: The State charges the editor of the Nairobi fortnightly Kenya Mirror Mr. Abdul Karim Hudani, with printing and publishing a seditious article between February and May this year.

Mr. Hudani appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Mr. S. K. Sachdeva, for mention of an earlier charge – of being unlawful possession of banned Chinese literature – when the new one was brought. Now he faces both counts. No plea was taken. He will be asked to do so on Monday. Mr. A. B. Shah applied for leave to withdraw from the case because Mr. Jackson Mulwa, MP, was taking over the defence. When the previous case came up for mention, Chief Insp. Joe Kyanzi applied for leave to bring a fresh charge. The first charge alleged that on May 15, in Nairobi. Mr. Hudini not being a public officer and not engaged in public duties, had in his possession a prohibited publication entitled “Chinese Literature” published by the Foreign Language Press, Peking, The new charge alleged that, on an unknown date between February and May, 1974, in Nairo.bi, Mr. Hudani, with seditious intent, printed and published in some 3,500 copies of a news magazine entitled Kenya Mirror, a seditious article likely to promote feeling of ill-will or hostility between different sections of classes of the population of Kenya. Mr. Hudani’s original cash bail of £250 was extended.

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