Kenyan president signs controversial media bill

By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY - Associated Press Writer


NAIROBI, Kenya -- Kenya's president has signed into law a media bill that opponents say threatens the country's hard-fought reputation for having one of Africa's most vigorous press.

Media watchdogs had petitioned against the bill, which gives a communications commission the power to regulate broadcasting under threat of fines or jail time.

In a statement Friday, President Mwai Kibaki said "while press freedom is a cardinal pillar of democracy, it is a right that carries with it special duties and responsibilities."

A controversial part of the bill, which parliament passed last month, allows the government to shut down media outlets by declaring a state of emergency. Several journalists were arrested recently while protesting the bill.

But Kibaki said late Friday that part was not included in the bill he signed.

Kenya is ranked among the world's most corrupt countries, and in the years following independence in 1963 reporters were regularly threatened and censored.

Journalists must be empowered to market Africa- Vice President

Vice President Alhaji Mahama at the weekend expressed the need for African journalists to be paid handsome salaries to empower them to project the image of Africa.

He said Europe should also create the platform to listen and tell the story of Africa in positive light, in order to dispel the prejudices Europeans had about Africans.

Alhaji Mahama was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Abuja, Nigeria at the end of the Fourth Africa Forum of the Partnership with Africa initiative, which aimed
at fostering development and co-operation between Africa and the industrialised nations.