{UAH} JOURNALISTS COME OUT AGAINST THE DRACONIAN LAW

Press Statement

Nairobi, Kenya: November 1, 2013

 

PASSAGE OF KICA BILL A BLOW TO MEDIA FREEDOM

 

Kenya Correspondents Association is alarmed and dismayed that the National Assembly yesterday went ahead and passed the Kenya Information and Communications Bill 2013 with all the attendant provisions that clearly threaten press freedom, freedom of expression and the overall democratic gains that Kenya has achieved over the years.

 

KCA is saddened that the MPs chose to ignore the loud protests from the media stakeholders and other Kenyans who have over the recent past pointed out the dangers inherent in the passing the Bill which seek to gag the media and heavily punish both media establishments and journalists for doing their work.

 

The media industry has fought hard to secure space for self -regulation and with other reform minded Kenyans, opened up space for citizens to enjoy civil liberties which have now been enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

 

A number of provisions in the Bill including the creation of the Tribunal with powers to impose a fine of up to Shs. 20 million ( USD 23,529) for media houses deemed to have offended the law, and Shs 1 m (USD 11,764) for individual journalists represents the worst form of attempt at media repression ever seen in this country.

 

The tribunal will have powers to suspend or bar journalists from practicing, a decision that could be based on flimsy grounds or designed to frustrate investigative reporting.

 

KCA considers as selfish and short sighted the move the move by MPs, which numbered only 28, out a total of 349, to rush through this important legislation and falsely claim that there was consensus when clearly that has not been the case.

 

We urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to decline to sign the Bill into law to avoid going down the annals of history as the leader under whose watch Kenya slid so fast and so low into the league of nations that are notorious for inhibiting press freedom and by extension the freedom of citizens to express themselves.

 

Kenyans and the media must not relent in the fight to secure and protect the civil liberties they have fought for so hard and for which many people have died, for to relent is to kill the Kenyan spirit of enterprise, love for freedom and democracy and our good international standing.

 

William Oloo  Janak

Chairman, Kenya Correspondents Association,

Nairobi, +254-722697927

Email: kcakenya2013@gmail.com                                        

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