It’s a dark day for media, say journalists

By ALLY JAMAH

Outrage greeted Parliament’s passing of the controversial media Bill, with journalists terming yesterday a dark day for Kenyan media.

They condemned the passing of the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2013 and vowed they would go to court to protect media freedom

Chairman of the Kenya Editors’ Guild Macharia Gaitho said the passing of the Bill did not change the fact that it was unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

“Our position as Kenyan journalists remains the same: The laws are a grave affront on the freedom of media. They are well calculated to target journalists and media enterprises with the ultimate aim of gagging them through hefty fines and penalties,” he said.

He said it was ironical that President Uhuru Kenyatta declined to assent to the Bill due to its unconstitutional provisions but returned it to Parliament without curing the problem of its unconstitutionality.

Vice Chairman of the Kenya Editors’ Guild David Ohito called on journalists across the country to be on standby for a major protest march to send a strong signal of outrage against the brutal assault on media freedom.

He hinted that a decision would be made on possible punitive editorial decisions that may be taken in response to the passage of the Bill.

“As journalists, this is a very sad and dark day for us. Freedom of media and freedom of expression has been effectively buried by the passage of this law. It is ironical that such repressive moves against the media are happening as Kenya celebrates 50 years of independence.”

He added: “Despite concerted efforts, all efforts at dialogue have failed and the Bill has been passed incorporating the contentious proposals put forward by President Uhuru Kenyatta.”

Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary General Jared Obuya said the passage of the anti-media law places Kenya in the league of countries hostile to media freedom such as Zimbabwe and China, among others.

“It is a dark moment for Kenya’s robust media environment when laws that will reverse gains made on freedom of expression and independence of media from State interference have been rubber-stamped by the National Assembly,” he said.