Ruto supports passage of conflicting media laws
Deputy President William Ruto receives a contribution of Sh500 from young Brian Mugo at Karatina stadium when he officiated the launch of the Mathira Education Trust Fund on Friday December 6, 2013. Ruto supported the passage of two conflicting media laws by Parliament on Thursday but said the government had no intention of gagging the media. PHOTO/STELLAR MURUMBA.
What you need to know:
- Mr Ruto has termed the legislators’ decision as fair.
- However, he said the government does not have any plans whatsoever to gag media.
- He added that everybody must be responsible and straight-forward for the benefit of the nation.
- He said under the current constitution, there are sufficient checks and balances that sanction the members of the fourth estate to operate in an environment that is free provided they do not infringe on the rights of others.
- Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega said that it was not true that President Kenyatta’s memorandum on the Bill suffocates the media.
Deputy President William Ruto has supported Thursday’s decision by Parliament to pass two conflicting media laws.
Mr Ruto has termed the legislators’ decision as fair.
Speaking Friday during the Mathira Education Trust Fund day at Karatina Stadium, Nyeri County, Mr Ruto said that what the members of parliament did was within the the constitution.
He said under the current constitution, there are sufficient checks and balances that sanction the members of the fourth estate to operate in an environment that is free provided they do not infringe on the rights of others.
“What parliament has done is within the limits of the constitution. The media are supposed to report fairly and truthfully. It cannot be fairer than that,” said Mr Ruto.
GAG MEDIA
However, he said the government does not have any plans whatsoever to gag the media.
“The government wants media freedom provided they respect the constitution,” Mr Ruto said.
He added that everybody must be responsible and straight-forward for the benefit of the nation.
“The Bill says the fine for a journalist found guilty is Sh100,000 and not Sh500,000 as the media put it. We have no reason to oppress media because we need them. Media play a major role in the nation,” he said.
At the same time, Kieni Member of Parliament Kanini Kega said that it was not true that President Kenyatta’s memorandum on the Bill suffocates the media.
Mr Kega asserted that the president consulted the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) prior to returning the memorandum to the National Assembly.
He further refuted claims that the Bill was not a good one.
CONFLICTING LAWS
Parliament Thursday passed two conflicting media laws, one creating a body that has powers to punish journalists and media houses and another that establishes a self-regulatory mechanism for the media.
But the second one puts the government-controlled tribunal at the top.
At the same time, the new Bill expands offences for which the tribunal can punish media houses besides retaining the Sh20 million fine against them.
The adoption of President Kenyatta’s memorandum means The Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal retains the authority to impose fines on media houses and journalists.
It also means the tribunal can recommend deregistration of journalists and make any directive it deems fit on the freedom of expression.
