OVERVIEW OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS AFFECTING MEDIA IN KENYA & THEIR NET

EFFECT By 

Henry Neondo (14-2820)Jane Gakaria (09-1247)

Jeremiah Nganda (16-0150)Loni Carol Semgalawe (16-0225)

Daystar UniversityFebruary 2016

Introduction 

This presentation gives an overview of the various laws and regulations that affect media in Kenya; th is includes Acts of Parliament and Articles from the Constitution of Kenya. 

It concludes by giving the net effect of the discussed laws. 

Objectives of any Press Law

Linard (2002) says that Press law meets two basic objectives:

i)  Guarantees freedom of information; by which we mean “protecting those responsible for transmitting this information”. 

• According to Linard, this freedom of information includes two complementary aspects; 

a) the right of a community to be  informed and 

b) the right of each individual to express him or herself freely. 

Obj..cont..ii) second objective of any Press law is to protect individuals and institutions from abusing freedom to express oneself

Kenyan contextKenya’s media from

independence was considered to operate in an environment without sufficient legislation, leaving media regulation at the whims of the Executive.

Section 79 of Chapter Five of the Lancaster Constitution stated that:

• …except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, that is to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference, freedom to receive ideas

The Old Constitution

and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference and freedom from interference with his correspondence (Reporting, 2008).

-This provision borrows heavily from Article 19, 

• However, Obonyo and Nyamboga (2011) point out a major differences between what the old constitution provided and what the UN DHR provides. They point out that the section excludes freedom to seek information” (Obonyo, 2011, p. 12). 

Contradictions in Article 79 of the Old Constitution…• Gives limited rights of freedom of expression [Article 79 (1)], “that is 

to say, freedom to hold opinions without interference,  freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and information without interference, … and freedom from interference with his correspondence”.

• But those rights are immediately taken away in Article 79(2). “Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of  this section…”

• The ambiguity, and lack of expressed protections for media freedoms, led the Kenyatta and Moi governments to extend their influences on media practice, because the law and constitution were silent on many apects of media operations.

The New Constitution

• Most media scholars agree that the 2010 Constitution

changed this. There are several sections of the Constitution

that address media freedom and enhance the freedom space.

These include Articles 33, 34 & 35

• Compared with the Old Constitution, the new constitution

has several sections that address media freedom much more

explicitly.

More freedom enshrined after 2010

• Article 33(1) guarantees “every person…the right to freedom of expression, which includes…freedom to seek, receive or impart information or ideas; freedom of artistic creativity; and…academic freedom and freedom of scientific research”.

• Article 33(2) What the right to freedom of expression DOES NOT GRANT: (a) Propaganda for war; (b)incitement to violence; (c) advocacy of hatred on ethnic or other discriminatory grounds.

• “In the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, every person shall respect the rights and reputation of others.

More freedom enshrined after 2010

• Article 34 […](2) “The State shall not (a) exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; (b)penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast, publication, or dissemination...

• Article 34(3) Broadcasting and other electronic media have freedom of establishment…and are independent of control by government, political interests or political interests.

More freedom enshrined after 2010• Article 34(4) “All State-owned media shall (a) be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communications, (b) be impartial, (c) afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and 

dissenting opinions.• Article 35(1)  Every citizen has the right to access: (a) information held by the state, and (b) information held by another person and required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom.

• opinions.

 Kenya Information & Communications Act & Media Council Act- passed in 2013. 

The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Act and the Media Council Act meant to regulate press..but also has penalties..eg the government-controlled regulatory Board can fine journalists up to Ksh 500,000; media houses fines of up to Sh20 million if the Board finds them in breach of a government-dictated code of conduct, to be penned by legislators ( www.cpj.org, 2013) 

Books & Newspapers Act – Chapter 111 of the laws of Kenya  Publishers are required to deliver 2 copies of their publication to the registrar

Anyone who wants to start a newspaper production business is expected to deposit to GPO a bond of Sh1 million as a prerequisite. 

According to Obonyo & Nyamboga (2011), this law says that an individual who wants to exercise their right to freedom of expression must have enough money to put up a bond. This limits speech. 

Penal Code – Chapter 63 of the Laws of Kenya • Section 194 – creates the offense of criminal libel defined by the Act …as “the unlawful publishing of any defamatory matter concerning another person with intention to defame either expressly stated or implied”. 

• However Obonyo & Nyamboga (2011) posit that publication of a matter cannot be unlawful if the matter is either true and for the public benefit that it should be published or it is privileged.

Sanctity of the Court • The constitution in Article 121 spells out offences relating to judicial proceedings-Contempt of Court. 

This Article makes it an offence to:-(i) Publish information obtained from confidential court documents. 

(ii) Reporting on court proceedings in breach of court orderIn cases of criminal contempt, it is the Attorney General who charges the alleged contemnor as happened in case of Republic v. David Makali and 3 Others, Court of Appeal Criminal Applications Nos 4 & 4 of 1994 (Obonyo & Nyamboga 2011)

The Official Secrets Act 

• It prohibits the media from telling the truth. It is a claw back to freedom as it stops the media from performing their job freely and effectively. It hinders journalists from accessing information and discourages public officials from providing sensitive information while awarding huge penalties against journalists found in breach.

• It provides for criminal libel, which is punishable by imprisonment, and is a serious disincentive to journalism ( www.fesmedia.org) 

Other Acts  

Other Acts that have variously been cited as being anti-Press include:

• Public Order Act • Copyright Act • National Cohesion and Reconciliation Act • Preservation of Public Security Act 

Conclusion 

• The net effect of the Kenyan laws and regulations affecting media, ‘is a law that severely restricts press freedom and breaches the constitutional protections granted journalists’ ( DN, 16th Dec 2013) 

• These Statutes have strong anti-media laws. Most of them undermine media freedom as they are largely retrospective, punitive and repressive. The Statutes promote censorship. 

Conclusion cont. 

• Most of the domestic laws limit speech and curtail media freedom. 

• As noted by Obonyo and Nyamboga (2011), ‘It is in bad faith for government to anticipate that the publisher is going to commit libel’ like is the case under Books & Newspapers Act. 

References • Africa media barometer (2005). FES-media Africa’s

report. Retrieved from http:fesmedia.org • Controversial media Bill signed into law (2013,

December 16). The Daily Nation. Retrieved from www.nation.co.ke

• Kenya parliament passes draconian media laws (2013, December 5). Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved from https://cpj.org/

• Obonyo, L. & Nyamboga, E. (2011). Journalists and the rule of law. Nairobi: The Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists.

Thank you