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Kenyan media
in court over ban on live coverage
The controversial Kenyan government suspension of live media coverage
has been challenged in court. The Media Institute moved to court
after the deadline to the government by the Editor's Guild to lift
the suspension
elapsed. The institute and KTN's Editorial Head, Ms Farida Karoney,
told the High Court the government's order was an illegal censorship
and should be quashed. |
| Former Internal Security minister, now at the Roads ministry, Mr
John Michuki, issued a notice on suspension of live broadcast to
all media houses through the Information PS, Dr Bitange Ndemo, on
December 30, 2007. The notice stated: "Pursuant to Section 88
of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998, I am directed by the Internal
Security minister, Hon John Michuki, that in the interest of public
safety and tranquility, that I order immediate suspension of all
live broadcast until further notice."
Karoney and the institute's executive officer, Mr David Makali, who are members
of the Editor's Guild, are seeking orders quashing the minister's directive.
They also want the order lifted until the case is heard and determined. A sworn
affidavit by Makali, says: "There is no power in the section of law relied
on to make the order that all media houses and journalists in general, stop any
broadcast of inciting or alarming material and take responsibility for such broadcast
in line with the law."
He says the notification is in contravention of Section 79 of the Constitution. "The
right of the applicants to receive information by way of live broadcasts has
been denied," he says.
Source: The East African Standard
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