Muchemi Wachira
17 August 2007
Nairobi — President Kibaki Thursday said he supports freedom of the Press.
The President, however, declined to commit himself on whether he will sign the contentious Media Bill.
The President, who has been under pressure not to sign the Media Bill that was presented to him on Tuesday, spoke about the important role that the Kenyan media have been playing.
"I am in support of a free and fair Press, which has made Kenya a free democratic society," he told a meeting of church leaders at Kenya Methodist Guest House and Conference Centre in Nairobi's Lavington area.
Since the Media Bill was passed by Parliament, where a controversial clause requiring editors to disclose their confidential sources was sneaked in by Ol Kalou MP Karue Muriuki, there has been an outcry all over the country.
Peaceful demonstration
Several MPs, the clergy and envoys have urged President Kibaki not to give assent to the Bill.
And on Wednesday, journalists from all media houses in Nairobi and Nakuru held a peaceful demonstration they termed Silent March to express their dissatisfaction with the Bill.
According to the Information and Communications minister, Mr Mutahi Kagwe, the Bill was presented to the Head of State on Tuesday.
And as stated in National Assembly's Standing Orders, President Kibaki has only 18 days from today to decide the fate of the Bill.
Yesterday, the President defended the media without any prompting.
Earlier, the Rev Dr Maxmillan Kiiru, who delivered a sermon after the Head of State laid a foundation stone for the new Methodist Ministry Centre, had described Parliament as "a house of confusion.
The Rev Kiiru said: "Parliament has become a house of confusion. We hear them passing Bills that later bring a lot of confusion."
He further told the Head of State that the same Parliament had been rejecting some important Bills, saying they had confused people to an extent that those who elected them could not follow their direction.
The Head of State, however advised the media to always observe the law, "as you play your rightful role in your daily chronicles, or while covering the latest events and happenings in the society."
Specific provisions
If the President declines to assent to the Bill, the Standing Orders says he shall, within 14 days, submit a memorandum to the Speaker of the National Assembly indicating the specific provisions of the Bill, which in his opinion, should be reconsidered by Parliament including his recommendations and amendments.
Parliament in turn, the Standing Orders continues to say, shall reconsider the Bill, taking into account his comments.
And the MPs shall then approve the recommendations he (the President) has proposed with or without amendment and resubmit the Bill to the President for assent, the Standing Orders states.
But in case Parliament refuses to accept the recommendations and approve the Bill in its original form, the President shall assent to it within 14 days of its passing, the Standing Orders adds.
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