Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday
(November 27th) rejected a controversial media bill passed by parliament
that critics have slammed as an attempt to muzzle the press.
Last month, lawmakers voted to set up a special quasi-government body to police the media, with the power to slap huge fines on journalists and outlets if they violate a code of conduct. The bill provoked a furious reaction from Kenya's media, with front pages declaring that democracy and free speech were under attack.
A statement from the presidency said Kenyatta used his veto power and sent the bill back to parliament.
It said Kenyatta concluded that "many provisions of the bill go against the constitutional requirement that the tribunal proposed should be independent of commercial, political and government interests".
It also said the president had noted the hefty fines proposed by the bill -- up to 20 million Kenyan shillings ($229,000) -- and "recommended that some of the sections be deleted".
The press have said such fines were enough to put many outlets out of business. He also found other parts of the bill "may be viewed as curtailing the independence of the media as guaranteed by the constitution," the statement said.
The parliament is expected to debate the president's version of the bill on Tuesday. The legislature can over-ride the president's veto with a two-thirds majority, Kenya's Capital FM reported.
Last month, lawmakers voted to set up a special quasi-government body to police the media, with the power to slap huge fines on journalists and outlets if they violate a code of conduct. The bill provoked a furious reaction from Kenya's media, with front pages declaring that democracy and free speech were under attack.
A statement from the presidency said Kenyatta used his veto power and sent the bill back to parliament.
It said Kenyatta concluded that "many provisions of the bill go against the constitutional requirement that the tribunal proposed should be independent of commercial, political and government interests".
It also said the president had noted the hefty fines proposed by the bill -- up to 20 million Kenyan shillings ($229,000) -- and "recommended that some of the sections be deleted".
The press have said such fines were enough to put many outlets out of business. He also found other parts of the bill "may be viewed as curtailing the independence of the media as guaranteed by the constitution," the statement said.
The parliament is expected to debate the president's version of the bill on Tuesday. The legislature can over-ride the president's veto with a two-thirds majority, Kenya's Capital FM reported.
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