Two men posing as media professionals were on Friday charged with giving false information and forging press cards.
Thomas Ochieng Owino and Fred Odanga Azelwa appeared before magistrate David Ndungi and denied three counts of giving false information, forgery and uttering a false document contrary to the law.
They were accused of informing James Maina Macharia, employed in the Public Service as a media relations officer at the Senate, that they were members of the Media Council of Kenya, information they knew or believed to be false.
They allegedly committed the offence on July 9, 2021 at KICC within Nairobi.
They wanted Macharia to allow them to enter KICC.
Odanga was also charged in the second count with forgery against the law.
They were accused that on an unknown date and place within Nairobi county, with intent to deceive, forged a media card purporting it was from the Media Council of Kenya.
In the last count, Odanga was charged with uttering a false document contrary to Section 353 of the Penal Code.
He was accused that on July 9, 2021 at KICC, he knowingly and fraudulently uttered a forged media card to Macharia.
The accused pleaded with the court to be released on bail, saying they publish online content and are not members of the media council.
They were released on Sh50,000 cash bail.
The matter will be mentioned on October 8.
-Edited by SKanyara
