Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old billionaire who once clothed the world through Giordano before challenging Beijing through Apple Daily, has been convicted in a landmark ruling that rights groups say effectively criminalizes journalism in Hong Kong.

For observers in Nairobi, the verdict is more than a distant geopolitical footnote. It serves as a chilling reminder of the fragility of civil liberties in a financial capital that remains a critical trade gateway for East Africa. As Kenya deepens its economic reliance on Chinese markets, the conviction sends a stark signal: the legal landscape in Hong Kong has fundamentally shifted.

The ‘Death Knell’ of a Free Press

Amnesty International’s China Director, Sarah Brooks, did not mince words, describing the conviction as the “death knell for press freedom in Hong Kong.” She noted that the essential work of journalism—scrutinizing power—has been effectively “rebranded as a crime.”

Lai, who has already spent over 1,800 days in custody, was found guilty of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the controversial National Security Law imposed in 2020. His crime, according to the prosecution, involved lobbying foreign governments to impose sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials.

• The Charges: Conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and sedition.
• The Stakes: Lai faces a potential life sentence.
• The Context: Apple Daily was forced to shut down in 2021 after police raided its newsroom and froze its assets.

A Warning to Kenyan Business

While the political implications are vast, the economic warning is immediate. Brooks emphasized that the verdict should serve as a “warning to all people doing business in Hong Kong: that pursuing opportunities in the city comes with severe legal risks.”

This caution lands with particular weight in Kenya. Following President William Ruto’s state visit to Beijing in April 2025, where Kenya and China elevated their ties to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” local businesses have been encouraged to expand exports—from avocados to tea—into the Hong Kong and mainland markets.

The conviction suggests that the legal firewall that once separated Hong Kong’s business environment from mainland China’s political sensitivities has eroded. For Kenyan traders, the message is clear: the rule of law in the Asian financial hub is now inextricably bound to political compliance.

‘Press Freedom Itself on Trial’

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the “unlawful conviction,” stating it demonstrates an “alarming deterioration” of media freedom in the territory. The organization argued that the trial was never just about one man.

“It is not an individual who has been on trial – it is press freedom itself, and with this verdict that has been shattered,” the group stated. As Lai awaits sentencing, his fate stands as a monument to the silenced voices of a city that once boasted one of the most vibrant media landscapes in Asia.