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Vol 54 No 23

Published 15th November 2013


Kenya

Media Bill signals fear of scrutiny

The restrictive new law looks to be the first shot in a government attempt to narrow the space for dissent and criticism

After the mass media claimed that security forces were responsible for looting and burning sections of the Westgate Shopping Mall during the recent terrorist attack, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his lieutenants are intent on cracking down on dissent. Last week, Kenyatta’s Jubilee Alliance members of parliament passed a harsh new media law that establishes a government-controlled authority to monitor the media and impose crippling penalties, including de-registration, on those found at fault. The Media and Communications Bill was passed by a majority of the 60 MPs present, a bare quorum for the 349-member Assembly.

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