Miguna's lawyer takes fight to Uhuru, want senior officials jailed
Miguna cancelled his flight at last minute.
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Taking to Twitter minutes after the President signed the controversial bill into law, Mr Havi told the government to instead begin by de-whipping some of the Senior Government officials who control the State’s digital space.
“If GoK is serious about enforcing the Cybercrimes Bill it should start from within itself.
“Head of Presidential Delivery Dennis Itumbi and his gang of 36 bloggers, some with HSC should be the first ones to be charged. Next, all spokesmen in charge of official GoK Twitter accounts,” the lawyer tweeted.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday assented to the Computer and Cybercrimes Bill, 2017, sparking online rage over the move.
The new law imposes hefty fines and long prison terms for cyber bullies and fake news dealers.
It also targets journalists, media houses, social media users, bloggers and other internet users.
The assent comes amid calls for the president to revert the law back to Parliament to ensure its provisions are constitutional and do not violate the right to media freedom and expression.
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Last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged President Kenyatta not to assent to the bill, saying it stifles press freedom.
“Kenyan legislatures have passed a wide ranging bill that will criminalize free speech with journalists and bloggers likely to be the first victims if signed into law,” said CPJ's Africa Coordinator Angela Quintal in New York.
Online outburst
Havi’s sentiments come a day after a senior Government official, Kenyan Film Classification boss Ezekiel Mutua had a bout of anger on Tuesday via his Twitter account. The officer, in a rough tone, told off his critics, a move which attracted rage from his followers, on his conduct as a State officer.
“Larry Madowo is a successful journalist but he is no paragon of virtue. He has no moral authority to lecture anyone about life, family or Godliness. Get a wife Chief and settle down!
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“There is more to life than money and the glory of a byline. Values that are rooted in godliness, family and cultural heritage are the basis of great nations and great people. The rest is hype and hoopla #IfikieLarryMadowo,” Dr Mutua tweeted on Tuesday.
Later, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior questioned Dr Mutua’s conduct as a State officer.
He replied: “Public officers cannot engage citizens in this manner. You are out of order. We must learn to restrain ourselves howsoever provoked.”
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