KENYA

Country Summary

President Daniel arap Moi’s Kenya African National Union (KANU) government has escalated its war against the independent press, refusing to tolerate any criticism of government officials or its policies. Journalists routinely face intimidation, harassment, attacks, imprisonment without charge, fines, charges of seditious libel or defamation, and pressure to reveal their sources. The government rarely launches investigations following the frequent acts of violence against the press or media houses.

In January, after protests from the international community and foreign diplomats based in Nairobi, President Moi ordered proposed draft media bills shelved indefinitely. The proposed media regulations included licensing of local and foreign journalists, the establishment of a government-mandated code of press conduct, and the creation of a council to regulate media operations. Possession of the proposed media bills by Kenyan journalists was deemed a criminal offense to discourage the information from becoming public until after it had secretly been passed by Parliament. Kenyan authorities subsequently submitted written requests to foreign diplomats calling for recommendations of press laws that would be appropriate for Kenya.

The proposed legislation provided for a comprehensive licensing process for journalists, and the print and broadcast media. It would establish a press council for the purpose of registering and monitoring the conduct of journalists, including foreign correspondents based in Kenya. The council would have the authority to review news content on the basis of prescribed standards, and ban journalists and the news media.

With elections scheduled for 1997, and confrontations escalating between the government and the political opposition, the independent press expects to be the target of increased government harassment during the period leading up to the elections.

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