Kenya’s Draconian Proposal to Regulate the Media

A new law that, if passed, would allow the Kenyan government to determine the content, style, manner and schedule of broadcasting, has drawn fierce resistance from the local media. The Kenya Communications Amendment Bill 2008, which is now in its final stages of the legislative process in Kenya’s Parliament, proposes to set up a communications commission appointed by the government to issue licences to broadcasters and a raft of heavy fines and prison sentences for various offenses. The media industry has rejected the law as draconian and retributive for its critical stance on Kenya’s intransigent parliament. Compared to other laws in Kenya, the fines prescribed by the bill are generally too high and suggest a discriminatory and vindictive attitude towards the media.

“It is of urgent interest to just governance and the future democracy of the country to legislate free and universal access to information…,” said Macharia Gaitho, chairman of the Kenya Editors Guild during a joint press conference with the Eastern Africa Editors Forum and The Media Institute on 1 December.

The bill, now in its third reading stage (of four), is expected to be debated in Parliament this week.

via AllAfrica