By LAWRENCE ALURU and BRYAN TUMWA
KISUMU COUNTY, KENYA: Religious leaders have urged the National Assembly to amend the controversial Bills aimed at gagging the media.
Anglican Bishop of Maseno West Joseph Wasonga and Bishop Beniah Salala of Mumias said if passed, the laws will claw back on the progress made in the fight for freedom of speech.
“Freedom of the Press must be respected and protected because it is enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution,” said Wasonga.
Speaking to The Standard on phone, Wasonga said MPs have a duty to protect the new Constitution.
“We fought for the new Constitution for a very long time and MPs should not allow it to be mutilated,” Wasonga added.
Bishop Salala said passing of the Information and Communications Amendment Bill and Media Council Bill will be tantamount to muzzling the voice of the people.
“Access to information is a constitutional right which should not be violated. The President should know that Kenyans are watching to see if he will honour what he promised Kenyans. This country might plunge into a parliamentary dictatorship if the leadership is not put in check,” said Salala.
The clerics also questioned suspension of six Judicial Service Commission members and formation of a tribunal to probe their conduct.
“Soon there will be a Judiciary crisis in the country if judges decide to down their tools over intimidation. How can you run the country when key institutions are not allowed to work freely,” posed Salala.
He said National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi has a duty to esnure that legislators don’t pass laws that are in conflict with provisions of the Constitution.
Wesonga said both the letter and spirit of the Constitution must be adhered to to avoid unnecessary crises.
He advised the Civil Society to refrain from violence and activities that may jeopardise peace.
Sh20 million fine
He said the Civil Society must join hands with the religious sector to fight vices in the society.
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“At times they leave out the religious sector and yet the Church is the conscience of the society,” he added.
The amendments made to the Media Bill retain the Sh20 million fine against media houses proposed by MPs and expands offences for which media houses can be punished by a government-controlled tribunal.
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