Media Groups Knock Harsh Media Law Passed By Kenya National Assembly

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Press groups and free speech advocates have voiced concern about an Information & Communications Bill enacted by Kenya's National Assembly and backed by the African nation's president Uhuru Kenyatta, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.

The measure creates tribunals to hear complaints against reporters and media groups. Journalists are worreid about the deterrent effect of the harsh fines that may be levied for breaching the journalists' code of conduct, which could reach 500,000 shillings ($5,776)  for individual reporters and a maximum 20 million shillings ($231,244) for media companies, according to the Bloomberg article.

The Kenya Editors Guild is weighing a court challenge to the law.