IFJ Welcomes Kenyan President’s Rejection of Media Bill Endangering Journalists' Sources

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today applauded Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki for rejecting a media bill that could have required reporters to reveal their sources in court..

“We applaud President Kibaki’s decision, which acknowledges that protection of confidential sources is a cornerstone of press freedom. This is a major victory for journalists and press freedom in Kenya” said Gabriel Baglo, Director of the IFJ Africa office. “We call on the Parliament to remove the clause from the media bill.”

The rejected clause in the bill stated that “[w]hen a story includes unnamed parties who are not disclosed and the same becomes the subject of a legal tussle as to who is meant, then the editor shall be obligated to disclose the identity of the party or parties referred to.”

The IFJ supported protests in Kenya against the adoption of the clause into law. Journalists and other media professionals held a peaceful demonstration in Kenya to protest the bill.

“We congratulate our Kenyan colleagues on this victory and support them in their fight to ensure that the new law will give full legal protection for journalists’ confidential sources,” Baglo said.

For further information contact the IFJ: +221 842 01 43
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 114 countries