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Journalists hold demo over media Bill

December 3rd, 2013 1 min read

Journalists held a protest march in Nairobi on Tuesday over a controversial media Bill that proposes hefty fines for journalists and media houses  that flout the code of conduct.

The bill proposes a Sh500,000 fine for individual journalists and Sh20 million fine for media houses that breach the code of conduct.

The protest march started at Nation Centre and proceeded through Moi Avenue, up Harambee Avenue and to Harambee House – Office of the President –  and then to Parliament Buildings.

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Journalists during their protest against the controversial Bill along Kimathi street. PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG.

MPs are on Tuesday afternoon scheduled to consider the changes to the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill proposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he declined to assent to the proposed law last week.

On Sunday, religious and trade union leaders, lawyers, human and civil rights activists, politicians and other professionals criticised the President’s proposed amendments to the Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill 2013, which they said were unconstitutional.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya accused the government of seeking to claw back the freedoms that Kenyans have painfully gained over the years through introduction of draconian laws.