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{
    "id": 402565,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/402565/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 195,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Wandayi",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2960,
        "legal_name": "James Opiyo Wandayi",
        "slug": "james-opiyo-wandayi"
    },
    "content": "the media from interference by the Executive, then the powers of the Cabinet Secretary in the appointment of a tribunal to determine the membership of the Council should be shared. That power of the Cabinet Secretary in forming the tribunal should be shared with Parliament, so that he or she does not determine solely who sits on that tribunal, which has the powers to recommend the sacking of a member of the Council. It is important that the Media Council remains as independent as practically possible for it to be able to serve the members of the media fraternity effectively. The key issue here is the protection of the freedom of the media. I also hope, because we have learnt from experience, that there are attempts in this country of late to muzzle the media. I hope that there will be no underhand dealings to sneak in amendments that will negate the essence of the freedom of the media as is enshrined in Article 34 of the Constitution. This is very important. The Media Council has been in existence for a number of years now in this country. So far, it has done its work quite well. What we need to do at this particular point in time is basically to make it perform better under this new law that we are creating to give effect to the Constitution. The freedom of the media is so cardinal that we should not allow ourselves to try and roll back the gains that we have made over the years by sneaking in amendments that will water down the powers of the Medial Council. The pertinent issue here is self-regulation. The Government has got no business meddling in the affairs of the media. The media must be let to do its work independently without fear or favour. In fact, you will agree with me that the gains that have been made in this country on the political front, the freedom of expression and the freedom of anything you can talk about, it is largely because of the courageous work that was done by what we used to call then “independent media.”"
}