Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008
Encyclopedia
The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008 is a Kenya
n Act of Parliament that was passed by the 10th Kenyan Parliament
and signed into law by President Mwai Kibaki
on January 2, 2009. It is a controversial amendment of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998 which gives the state power to raid media houses and control the distribution of content. It also gives the government the right to:
The bill was opposed by the ODM
of Prime Minister Raila Odinga
, and the Kenyan Union of Journalists.
Due to protests by Kenyan journalists, Kibaki ordered the attorney general and information minister to review the Act and suggest any possible amendments; possible amendments could address such contentious areas as Section 88 - 92.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n Act of Parliament that was passed by the 10th Kenyan Parliament
10th Kenyan Parliament
The 10th Parliament of the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya was opened on January 15, 2008, with the Orange Democratic Movement of Raila Odinga in the majority. Raila was a candidate in the 2007 presidential elections, which resulted in a controversial victory for Mwai Kibaki of the PNU...
and signed into law by President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
on January 2, 2009. It is a controversial amendment of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998 which gives the state power to raid media houses and control the distribution of content. It also gives the government the right to:
- penalise media infractions with heavy fines and prison terms
- sole discretion in granting broadcast licences
- control of programme content and broadcasts.
The bill was opposed by the ODM
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
of Prime Minister Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
, and the Kenyan Union of Journalists.
Due to protests by Kenyan journalists, Kibaki ordered the attorney general and information minister to review the Act and suggest any possible amendments; possible amendments could address such contentious areas as Section 88 - 92.