The Kenyan government has defended a contentious media bill which critics say is intended to gag the press. The Kenya Communications Amendment Bill, which was passed by parliament, gives the state power to raid media houses and control broadcast content.
The new bill gives the minister for internal security the power to raid a media house, search its premises, dismantle broadcast equipment and take a station off air. Media Council of Kenya chairman Wachira Waruru says that the new bill aims to kill the recently acquired press freedom.
Kenya's press has feared for its independence since a 2006 raid on a TV station and newspaper offices. In that incident, the Standard and its sister TV station KTN were accused of inciting ethnic hatred. Those raids (by armed and masked police officers) followed a series of exposes about government corruption.
In May 2007, parliament passed a media bill that sanctioned tighter media controls and would have compelled journalists to reveal their sources. Hundreds of journalists held a protest with their mouths symbolically shut with sticky tape, and the bill was later rejected by President Mwai Kibaki.
See the BBC story for more details.
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