Nairobi.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.
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