Law requiring TV to get approval tossed |
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Published
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Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:24
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - The constitutional court on Tuesday overturned a Kenyan law that required TV and radio stations to obtain an approval certificate from a censorship board before broadcasting material.The 2001 law required all broadcasters, theaters, production companies and advertisers to obtain clearance for any material they intend to distribute in Kenya. The law had been intended to apply only to films, setting age restrictions, but the government tried to expand its scope.Critics said the intention was to stifle dissent in the broadcast media.The two-judge court ruled in favor of the Nation Media Group, and said the information minister had overstepped his authority.'He cannot purport to extend the legislation to broadcasting networks, neither can he lawfully seek to regulate television commercials, documentaries and features,' the court ruling said.The court said the law was especially burdensome for live TV broadcasters.Freedom of expression was fundamental to every aspect of democracy and should receive maximum protection, the court said.Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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