This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Published on September 26, 2019, a proposed bill in Kenya has sparked debate over its potential impact on freedom of expression.
The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2019, aims to regulate bloggers by requiring them to register with the government and obtain a license. Those who fail to comply could face up to two years in jail or a fine of up to Sh500,000.
The bill also targets Facebook and WhatsApp group administrators, who would be required to apply for licenses from the government. Bloggers would be defined as individuals involved in collecting, writing, editing, and presenting news or news articles on social media platforms or the internet.
Malava MP Malulu Injendi is the sponsor of the bill, which has been criticized for its potential to curtail freedom of expression. Critics argue that the bill is a sneaky way to control the voices of vocal bloggers and maintain the mainstream media's monopoly on news dissemination.
Kenya has a history of attempting to control information, but this bill has been met with widespread criticism. Any competent constitutional court would likely throw out this bill, which is seen as unconstitutional and a clear attempt to silence critics.
