Uhuru insists media Bill is constitutional

By FRANCIS NGIGE and PEACELOISE MBAE

The government has insisted it has no intention of gagging the media.

Speaking a day after Parliament sanctioned his memorandum spelling punitive fines to journalists; President Uhuru Kenyatta said there “is nothing unconstitutional about the Bill.”

Kenyatta said even though media freedom is provided for in the Constitution and the government respects it, “there should be responsibility in everything we do.”

Although he appeared to invite media stakeholders to the negotiating table, the President remained defiant, accusing the media of misleading the country on provisions of the legislations.

Speaking in Chuka yesterday, Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto claimed that the media had hatched a plan to mislead Kenyans on the contents of the Bill, which has so far stoked controversy.

“The freedom of the media is not a privilege but a virtue guaranteed in the constitution, but let us talk the truth. There is no need of lying to the country,” said Uhuru.

He added: “This government respects the freedom of the media but these people (the media) have been misleading Kenyans on what the law says. Let them point out any section of the law that is unconstitutional not generalising issues.”

His comments came barely a week after he rejected a Bill that was passed by Parliament, and later gave recommendations that the media, through the Kenya Editor Guild (KEG) termed more injurious to media freedom.

KEG has expressed concerns that the Keya Information and Communications Bill that the MPs passed in Parliament last Thursday poses grave threats to the freedom of the media in Kenya, since it seeks to confer on the State-controlled Communications Commission of Kenya (now renamed Communication Authority of Kenya) power to control and regulate the media, among other issues.

He spoke at Chuka University in Tharaka Nithi County, yesterday, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the town.

The ceremony was attended by four senators, 10 MPs but was boycotted by local Governor Samuel Ragwa over alleged differences organisers of the event.

Angry man

A visibly angry Kenyatta accused the media of engaging in a campaign to demonise the government by suggesting it was against the media and the civil society.

“I don’t even read these newspapers. It is William (Ruto) who is telling me what the headlines are saying about this issue. But let me make it clear it is not what the headlines you will write or the contents of the paper, come and tell us where the problem is,” he said.

Extending an olive branch to the media stakeholders, he said it was only through dialogue contentious issues would be solved.

“Don’t think that I’m going to answer to these headlines that you have written if there are things that you are not happy with come and tell us then we discuss. Not writing editorial castigating us,” he said.

Insisting that his government respects freedom of the media, the Head of State said journalists should be responsible and ensure they protect the freedom of all.

“What is wrong with a fine? If you have no intention of wronging others you should not be afraid of the punitive measures put in place in the law,” he remarked.

He said fines against errant journalists are provided for in most democracies across the world.

“Even in United Kingdom fines are bigger than the ones being proposed here. Absolute freedom without disregard to the subject cannot be allowed. This is like asking a robbery suspect what punishment he wants,” said Kenyatta.