Raila Odinga blasts Members of Parliament over Media Bill

Raila Odinga

By KENAN MIRUKA

 and NAFTALI MAKORI

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has criticised MPs for passing a ‘draconian’ Media Bill aimed at gagging journalists.

Speaking during the funeral of former councillor Samson Nyamweya that was also attended by former President Mwai Kibaki,at Kemera in Nyamira County yesterday, Raila said he was saddened by the passing of the bill which he termed as shameful.

“MPs should not attempt to silence us by passing this draconian media law. Freedom of speech is enshrined in the Constitution and nobody should try to take us back to the dark old days,” he said.

Citing former President Mwai Kibaki, who also attended the funeral, Raila urged the current leadership in the country to be tolerant and accommodate criticism as a principle of democracy.

“Kibaki was a champion of press freedom as he respected the media. You could say a lot about him but he didn’t care much about it. Occasionally he would brush it off with a joke ‘hiyo ni upumbavu’ and it ended there. This is the spirit we should all embrace,” said Raila.

MPs on Thursday approved the repressive Kenya Information and Communications (Ammendment) Bill that threatens to crackdown on the media by slapping punitive fines on journalists. (See related stories on pages 4, 5, 6)

Raila said Kenyans were angered at the passing of the law which threatens to deny them their right to information and speech. “As a leader, you can be abused and attacked like it always happened to me. Gagging the media is not the best thing to do in the circumstances. You can do rejoinder or rebuttal occasionally but don’t attempt to silence us or harass journalists,” he said.

Kibaki steered off politics as he eulogised the departed politician urging Kenyans to be versatile and focused while building their careers in public life. He said the late Nyamweya, who had clocked 100 years, had accomplished more than what many people have done.

Former Cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae also steered off politics despite being prodded by local leaders led by former Kisii Mayor Claire Omanga who asked him to play an active role in uniting the community.

Governors James Ongwae (Kisii) and John Nyagarama (Nyamira) and Kisii senator Chris Obure attended the burial.