Kenyan court finds criminal libel laws unconstitutional

A ruling by Kenya’s High Court that the country’s criminal defamation law is unconstitutional is a welcome step toward safeguarding press freedom and free speech, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Justice JM Mativo ruled that section 194 of Kenya’s penal code is incompatible with the country’s constitution and presents an unjustifiable limitation on Kenyans’ freedom of expression, according to media reports.

“Today’s ruling from Kenya’s High Court is an important victory in the fight to protect media freedom,” CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal said. “We call on the government not to contest the ruling and to amend the penal code to safeguard press freedom.”

Source: Kenyan court finds criminal libel laws unconstitutional – Committee to Protect Journalists