UHURU KENYATTA
A new framework against terror
Today I signed into law the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014, which provides a firm framework for the fight against terrorism. I call on all Kenyans to read the new law for yourselves instead of depending on interpretations that mislead.
I am confident that you will find that there is nothing in this law that goes against the Bill of Rights or any provision of the constitution. Its intent is one; to protect the lives and property of all citizens.
I was appalled by the deplorable behavior of Members of Parliament who as a result denied Kenyans the opportunity to follow the proceedings of Parliament. Those who disrupted the smooth operation of Parliament yesterday are oblivious to the threat that is upon the country.
For the first time, we now have a law that focuses on prevention and disruption of threats. Further, the law allows for the use of technology in processing and advancing the ability for successful prosecution of suspects. This new law establishes an institutional framework for the counter-terrorism war and will create synergy between the different security agencies by creating clear command structures.
This synergy is cascaded from the highest level to the lowest level through the national Government security structures. The law also raises the threshold for public and state officers who are charged with the responsibility of protecting Kenya and its people.
The raised threshold is necessary because of lack of integrity and its role in compromising national security. It provides for heavy penalties for any transgression.
My Government has also commenced wide-scale administrative and operational reforms that align command and control, improve doctrine and modalities of work and improve operational effectiveness on the ground.
We must remember that we are still at war and still vulnerable to terror attacks. I therefore call upon each one of us to remain vigilant and share any information that would aid in securing our country with relevant authorities. I wish you all peace and prosperity during the festive season.
RAILA ODINGA
Why the new law is dangerous
1. It takes away the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authorities. By giving the Cabinet Secretary power to decide where and when people can assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions, trade union activity can now be neutralised, political activity can be controlled and government will become dictatorial.
2. It introduces a new type of law that makes people responsible for the actions of others. This is what they mean when they say a person convicted of convening a rally, meeting or procession will be made liable for any loss suffered. Trade unions will now be liable to companies for economic loses resulting from strikes or to the government for causing traffic jams.
3. It takes away the power to declare curfew from the Inspector General of Police to the Cabinet Secretary for Interior. The decision to impose curfew will now not be made based on a professional security risk assessment but on the political grounds since the Inspector General has roles placed on him by the constitution but the Cabinet Secretary has none.
4. It restricts the right of the people to receive information if that information is considered obscene, gory or offensive. The Act does not define what is “obscene”, “gory”, or “offensive” and this will now depend on the police. The Constitution has already stated what information is forbidden and the amendment is trying to add more restrictions.
5. It takes away the right of an accused person to be told what evidence the prosecution has. It is a basic right for an accused person that he must be informed what evidence will be used against him before the trial. We saw at the International Criminal Court at The Hague our President complaining that Prosecution was withholding evidence. He now must uphold for Kenyans the rights he was demanding when he was himself an accused person.
6. It requires an accused person to disclose his witnesses and evidence to the Police. It is another basic right for the accused that he cannot be compelled to disclose anything to the prosecution. We also saw our president protest very strongly at the ICC when the prosecution applied to Kenya to give the prosecution information. The president must also respect the same rights for the rest of Kenyans.
7. It institutionalises the military into our civilian institutions by putting them in the Firearms Licensing Board and Inter-Agency Security Advisory Committee. One great tradition of Kenya is that we keep our military out of civilian affairs. It is one of the reasons we remained stable when other Africa countries experienced military coups. Even today, countries that allowed the military into civilian affairs are the most unstable in Africa including Egypt, Nigeria, Uganda, North and South Sudan. Civilian authorities need to be replaced using civilian methods while military can only be removed by military.
8. It gives the right to any police officer to obtain information from landlords about tenants even without requiring the existence of an investigation against the tenant and suspend your driving licence. We know our police men and we know that allowing them to check on landlords is only opening up a new plantation for them to harvest where they did not sow. Suspension of driving licenses is also a new cash cow for the police. All public service vehicle drivers and owners can expect the worst when police acquire this power.
9. It brings back to Kenya the dreaded special branch in a more lethal formation. The NIS now has power to enter and search premises and to take away any property that they want without having to get a warrant from court or being accountable to anyone. The decision is entirely that of the NIS officer.
10. It limits the right of the media to give true and accurate information. The restrictions on media … would have made the entire media coverage of Westgate attack illegal. We would only have known what the Police wanted us to know. The coverage of Mandera attacks would also have been illegal.
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