ADVERTISEMENT A middle-aged man is fighting for his freedom after being arrested for allegedly running a lucrative WhatsApp piracy racket – charging unsuspecting Kenyans for illegal digital copies of the country’s biggest newspapers.
Antony Mwanzia Kimeu appeared before Milimani Magistrate Teresia Nyangena on Monday, March 2, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to two serious counts of copyright infringement under Section 38 of the Copyright Act No. 12 of 2001.
Prosecutors claim Kimeu was illegally distributing and selling full digital editions of Daily Nation, Taifa Leo, Business Daily, and The East African – all owned by Nation Media Group (NMG) – through a WhatsApp account linked to his Safaricom number.
The alleged offences took place between June 23 and July 10, 2025, in what authorities describe as a clear case of commercial piracy targeting paid e-papers.
Kimeu was released on KSh 500,000 bond with one surety (or KSh 200,000 cash bail) and is expected back in court on March 7, 2026, for pre-trial directions. NMG has lined up six witnesses to testify against him.
This high-profile case is part of a growing crackdown on WhatsApp groups and channels flooding Kenya with cheap “e-papers.” Similar prosecutions last year targeted popular forums selling pirated editions for as little as KSh 50.
Legal experts warn that casually forwarding newspaper pages in family groups is usually harmless – but systematically uploading full editions and charging for them crosses straight into criminal territory, with possible fines or jail time.
Nation Media Group, the complainant, says it will continue working with police to shut down these digital piracy rings.
Have you been buying cheap e-papers on WhatsApp? This case could change everything. Stay tuned for updates.
