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{
    "id": 403479,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/403479/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 266,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Waiganjo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2644,
        "legal_name": "John Muriithi Waiganjo",
        "slug": "john-muriithi-waiganjo"
    },
    "content": "I want to urge this House and the Committee that is responsible to look at this Bill again to try and bring amendments, so that when we pass it, we shall be passing a piece of legislation that is acceptable. We do not want to hear hue and cry from the media that we are trying to stifle them. This is because freedom to the media is freedom to the people. We are the representatives of the people; so, if we make any law that appears to stifle the media, or that appears to be oppressive to the media then what we are effectively doing is that we are also stifling ourselves. Hon. Speaker, Sir, if we make the media subject to control by the State, then what we are saying is that we are making this Parliament and ourselves subject to the State in the manner in which we do our things. So, I support this Bill, because it is required by the Constitution and it is meant to do well and to give more freedom to the media. I support it subject to clear and unequivocal amendments to clauses that appear to give the State, particularly the Cabinet Secretary, a lot of leeway to meddle in the Media Council. The Media Council should be constituted and the media industry and journalists must be satisfied that the law is for their independence and the independence of this country and not in any way oppressive. Thank you."
}