Journalists hold demo in Kisumu

By KEVINE OMOLLO

Journalists in Kisumu County have protested against the media Bill that was passed by MPs last week.

They asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject it in totality since it would infringe on press freedom.

The journalists, under the banner of Kisumu Journalists Network, termed the passing of the Kenya Information and Communication Amendment Bill 2013 as a move to gag the media.

In a speech read by the Organising Secretary Allan Obiero, they expressed concern over the proposal to establish a tribunal that would bar journalists from practising, saying this would intimidate journalists.

“The media industry has fought hard to secure space for self-regulation in line with the Constitution hence must be given enough breathing space,” they said.

Watered down

They said this is a move which would compromise freedom of expression and information as provided in the Constitution.

They urged the President to ignore the National Assembly’s push to avoid going down history as the leader under whose watch Kenya’s hard-won press freedom was watered down.

“The concerns raised by various stakeholders are genuine and the President must listen to them for the Government’s dignity on human rights to continue standing tall,” said Obiero.