Kenyan government publishes new communications bill

28 Jul 2008

New bill has controversial clauses omitted; critics believed they were designed to muzzle the media.

The Kenyan Government has dropped plans to bar cross-media ownership and to empower the Internal Security Minister to order invasion of broadcasting stations.

These clauses that sought to muzzle the media have been taken away from the Kenya Communications (Amendment) Bill 2008. Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio published the draft law yesterday.

Poghisio's predecessor Mutahi Kagwe was forced to withdraw the Bill last year amid condemnation that it contained controversial clauses aiming to gag the media.

It had sought to ensure no broadcasting licensee had a “controlling interest” in another broadcasting licensee or owned or had “controlling interest” in a person licensed to produce a newspaper. Essentially it barred ownership of a newspaper and a broadcasting station at the same time.

Also, while last year's Bill stated that the Internal Security Minister could order a raid on a “rogue” station “on declaration of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety,” the new Bill has no such provision.

Before issuing a broadcast license, the commission shall consider diversity and plurality of views to enhance competition.

Article courtesy European Journalism Centre