Outrage over Bill to punish journalists
What you need to know:
- The MOA has vowed to go to court should the contentious Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill 2014 become law without the removal of some clauses.
- The Bill seeks to enhance the powers of the National Assembly and Senate and if passed in its current form, will muzzle the media and cushion lawmakers from scrutiny.
Media owners have criticised a proposed law which seeks to impose fines of up to Sh500,000 on journalists if MPs do not like how they are reported.
The law, sponsored by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, gives parliamentary staff the powers of a police officer, a move media owners say is an attempt to introduce a police state.
The Media Owners Association (MOA) has vowed to go to court should the contentious Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill 2014 become law without the removal of some clauses.
The Bill seeks to enhance the powers of the National Assembly and Senate and if passed in its current form, will muzzle the media and cushion lawmakers from scrutiny.
The MOA said the proposed law sought to “stifle public participation in regard to the performance and conduct of MPs” and is an attack on media freedom.
'DANGEROUS PROVISIONS'
“Whereas the new Keynan Bill dated May 21, 2014 buttresses MPs’ rights to say whatever they want within the precincts of Parliament, and facilitate the discharge of their oversight role without unnecessary restrictions, it has dangerous provisions that if allowed to pass will stifle parliamentary reporting and also crack down on protests by civil societies,” said MOA chairman Sam Shollei on Monday.
“The Bill targets the media and civil society as “enemies of Parliament, hence a draconian provision to control their operations,” he said.
“As media, we reserve the right to take action against enactment of this Bill and we’ll seek legal redress to declare the offending provisions unconstitutional.”
Mr Shollei, who is the Standard Group CEO, took issue with clause 34, which introduces an offence of “defamation against Parliament” and proposes heavy punishment intended to “discourage collective criticism of the House”.
Mr Shollei also criticised clause 35 which sets heavy fines of Sh500,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years or both should one be convicted of an offence under that law.
“The motive for such punitive measures apparently stems from recent campaigns by the media and civil society against selfish pursuits by MPs including arbitrary increment of their salaries,” he said.
