Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008

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Date passed
  
January 2, 2009

Date enacted
  
January 2, 2009

Enacted by
  
10th Parliament of Kenya

The Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008 is a Kenyan Act of Parliament that was passed by the 10th Parliament of Kenya and signed into law by President Mwai Kibaki on January 2, 2009. It is a controversial amendment of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998, which gives the state power to raid media houses and control the distribution of content. It also gives the government the right to:

  • penalise media infractions with heavy fines and prison terms
  • sole discretion in granting broadcast licences
  • control of programme content and broadcasts.

    • The bill was opposed by the ODM of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and the Kenyan Union of Journalists.

    Due to protests by Kenyan journalists, Kibaki ordered the attorney general and information minister to review the Act and suggest any possible amendments; possible amendments could address such contentious areas as Section 88 - 92.

    References

    Kenya Communications (Amendment) Act, 2008 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA