NAIROBI: Eldas MP Adan Keynan bowed to pressure and shelved his controversial Bill, which if passed could have cushioned lawmakers from media scrutiny.
The proposed law imposes a Sh500,000 fine or jail term for any journalist who in the judgement of parliamentarians, publishes a story defaming the House.
The Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill 2014 has attracted the attention of media practitioners and other stakeholders, with the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) even citing it as unconstitutional.
The Bill also limits the broadcasting of proceedings of the House and committee sittings.
Wednesday, Keynan told the House he was not ready to proceed moving debate on the Bill which had been called for Second Reading, saying he wanted to first engage stakeholders who had expressed dissatisfaction with the Bill in dialogue to address the contentious issues that had been raised.
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"Many people and groups, including media owners, editors guild and others have challenged this Bill. I want to first sit down with them to ensure that pertinent issues they have raised have been addressed," said Keynan, when he was called to move debate by temporary Speaker Tom Kajwang.
But Keynan was categorical that he was not withdrawing the Bill, insisting that "this is a law that must pass in this National Assembly".
Keynan insisted he was not the originator of the proposed law but was only acting as the means through which it came before the National Assembly.
