PRESS RELEASE: MEDIA (KICA) BILL 2013: KCA CALLS FOR URGENT CONSULTATION.

Kenya Correspondents Association has today called for urgent consultations between media industry stakeholders and Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Communications to review the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2013

The decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to return the Bill to the National Assembly opens up a window for urgent, comprehensive and inclusive consultations and consensus on all areas that have been in contention to avoid further acrimony.

While KCA welcomes the presidents move to return the Bill to the National Assembly with a memorandum detailing his views, there remain grave concerns about various provisions in the Bill which must be subjected to further scrutiny and agreement between all stakeholders.

The provisions relating to financial penalties on journalists and media houses and the role of the proposed Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal, among other areas mus be re-looked into and agreed upon.

KCA wishes to call on the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Communications to convene an urgent meeting with stakeholders at the earliest opportunity to discuss the concerns of media industry stakeholders  before the Bill is put before the House again for debate.

KCA takes issue with the statement by the speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi indicating that the entire document cannot be re-opened for scrutiny except on the clauses the president has pointed.
out.

We are of the view that the wisdom inherent in the President returning the Bill for review by the House opens up space for a total relook at the document and it it illogical for the Speaker to attempt to limit discussion on other provisions of the Bill and to claim that 233 MPs wil be required to reject the president's proposals.

The president has merely given an opinion on Bill, which is not a law yet. So nothing stops the MPs and stakeholdrs from looking at the whole document.

Signed

William Oloo Janak

Chairman, Kenya Correspondents Association

Nairobi, Kenya

November 28,2013