The public and media consumers are outraged that two government-appointed bodies with quasi-judicial powers will have the power to slap fines of up to Sh500,000 on journalists and Sh20 million on media houses for breaches of law.
In its judgement recently, The High Court said the Complaints Commission of the Media Council and the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal of the Communications Authority had the powers to slap media houses, editors and journalists with the hefty penalties. Such provisions in law will encourage self-censorship and ruin the media's place as a public watchdog.