Reject proposed media law, President urged

The proposed media Bill is unconstitutional and President Uhuru Kenyatta should reject it, the Kirinyaga governor has said.

(VIDEO: Senate wants to review proposed media bill)

According to Governor Joseph Ndathi, the Bill should not have passed in Parliament without being thoroughly scrutinised.

"This is an illegal Bill as it does not conform to the Constitution and the President should not sign it into into law," he said at his Kutus office on Tuesday.

He added that the Jubilee government was elected on the premise that it would respect the constitution.

The governor insisted that ignoring citizen participation in government activities should be strongly opposed.

Mr Ndathi noted that the media is a link between wananchi (citizens) and the government and said the State has an obligation to respect to the rule of law.

AG ADVISE GOVERNMENT

Attorney General Githu Muigai was put on the spot for allegedly failing to advise the government.

"The AG failed in his duty as the government advisor. He should have even stepped in when the Bill was read for the first time in Parliament and given the government the legal implications," he said.

Mr Ndathi praised the media for its key key role in educating people of their rights and exposing ills in government.

Freedom of expression is crucial and the media should not be muzzled, he said.

"The grey areas of the Bill should be addressed and struck out," he said.

The governor also uerged leaders to concentrate on development issues.

"As leaders we should initiate projects beneficial to our people instead of engaging in endless political wrangles," he said.