Kenyan Journalists hold protests over media law

A journalist in Eldoret town holds a demonstration against the Media Bill yesterday

Journalists yesterday held protests in Nairobi and other major towns over changes in the media Bill that curtail press freedom. Editors’ Guild vice-chair David Ohito led journalists in peaceful picketing in Nairobi.

The protests were also held in Mombasa, Nyeri, Nakuru and Eldoret.

In Nairobi, the journalists converged outside Nation Centre before starting the procession on Kimathi Street, Moi Avenue and later joined Harambee Avenue before presenting their memorandum to the Office of the President, Deputy President, Attorney General and to Parliament.


The media personnel bound their mouth and camera lenses with tapes. Mr Ohito said journalists would move to court if Parliament passed memorandum proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta “which worsened an already bad Bill.”

Mr Ohito said the country requires free and independent media and that regulations should only be through the Media Council or a professional body composed of journalists. “The clauses in the media Bill should be in tandem with the constitution and reflect modern society,” Mr Ohito said.

WITHDRAW PROPOSED LAW

He said Parliament should raise at least 233 MPs to overturn the changes proposed by President Kenyatta or the Head of State should withdraw the proposed law and send a proper one to the House.

Media Owners Association said President Kenyatta’s memorandum of refusal on the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2013, should be taken to a parliamentary departmental committee on Energy and Communication. MOA on behalf of the Nation Media Group, Radio Africa Group, Royal Media Services, Kass and Standard Group said the Bill as passed by the National Assembly on October 31 fundamentally violates the Spirit and Letter of Article 34, Freedom of the Media and is thus unconstitutional.