Africa: IFJ/FAJ Condemn the Signing of Bad Media Bill in Kenya

press release

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) have today condemned in the strongest terms possible the assenting of the President's signature to the Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill 2013, which was passed by the National Assembly on 5 December, 2013 despite huge opposition from members of the media fraternity in Africa and beyond.

According to the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA) an affiliate of the IFJ and FAJ, "The President is reported to have signed the Bill into Law on Wednesday, 11 December, setting the stage for the gagging of the media and the slapping of hefty fines on journalists and media houses". The President of the KCA, William Janak Oloo in a statement issued on Tuesday, 17 December, said "The situation is grim and the impact of this law will be to intimidate journalists so that they do not report about sensitive political issues and corruption related cases that require investigative journalism".

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