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Kenya security law: President Uhuru Kenyatta signs bill | Kenya security law: President Uhuru Kenyatta signs bill |
(35 minutes later) | |
Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial security bill which saw MPs trade blows in parliament. | Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial security bill which saw MPs trade blows in parliament. |
It was passed on Thursday during a chaotic parliamentary session, with opposition MPs warning that Kenya was becoming a "police state". | It was passed on Thursday during a chaotic parliamentary session, with opposition MPs warning that Kenya was becoming a "police state". |
The government has said it needs more powers to fight militant Islamists threatening Kenya's security. | The government has said it needs more powers to fight militant Islamists threatening Kenya's security. |
Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group has stepped up attacks in Kenya. | Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group has stepped up attacks in Kenya. |
The new anti-terror legislation requires journalists to obtain police permission before investigating or publishing stories on domestic terrorism and security issues. | The new anti-terror legislation requires journalists to obtain police permission before investigating or publishing stories on domestic terrorism and security issues. |
It also stipulates that police must approve publication or broadcasting of information relating to investigations on terrorism. | |
"We must all remember that we are still at war and still vulnerable to terror attacks," Mr Kenyatta said in a televised address, defending the law. | "We must all remember that we are still at war and still vulnerable to terror attacks," Mr Kenyatta said in a televised address, defending the law. |
He denied that it infringed on civil liberties. | He denied that it infringed on civil liberties. |
Shocked | |
The BBC's Dennis Okari in the capital, Nairobi, says the security bill has gone through various amendments. | The BBC's Dennis Okari in the capital, Nairobi, says the security bill has gone through various amendments. |
The provision giving the security and intelligence agencies power to intercept phone conversations without a court order was dropped, he says. | The provision giving the security and intelligence agencies power to intercept phone conversations without a court order was dropped, he says. |
Suspects in police custody will only be held for 24 hours and not 360 days as suggested in the original bill, unless a court order is issued. | Suspects in police custody will only be held for 24 hours and not 360 days as suggested in the original bill, unless a court order is issued. |
The opposition, civil society groups and the media have all said they will go to court to challenge the legislation. | |
Thursday's special parliamentary sitting, which turned into mayhem live on television, shocked many Kenyans, our correspondent says. | |
Opposition MPs tore up papers and chanted anti-government slogans - there was a fist-fight and the deputy speaker had water poured over her. | |
Mr Kenyatta condemned their behaviour as "deplorable" and said the law was only meant to "protect the lives and property of all Kenyans and disrupt any threats to our national security". | |
"May peace dwell within our borders during this festive season," he said at the end of his address. | |
Since last month, al-Shabab has killed 64 people in two attacks in the north-eastern region of Mandera, which borders Somalia. Last year it was also responsible for the Westgate shopping centre siege in Nairobi in which 67 people died. | |
Kenya sent troops into Somalia three years ago, and they now make up part of the African Union force helping to fight the militant group. |