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Withdraw Statute Law Miscellaneous Bill 2019 Coast -CSO’s petition Senate

Coast CSO's at Castle Royal Hotel Mombasa on Tuesday

BY PETER KOMBE

Coast civil society is calling on the Senate to immediately withdraw the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill 2019.

According to the CSOs the amendment is aimed at paralyzing the work of civil society in the country.

“We are utterly perturbed by the Statute Law Miscellaneous amendment Bill 2019” HURIA Executive director said

The CSO’s are also opposed to the proposed amendment to the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2012 which require that the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to approve civil society organization and international non-governmental organizations.

Addressing the media in Mombasa on Tuesday at Royal Castle Hotel Human Rights Agenda Executive Director Yusuf Lule notes that CSOs are duly registered and approved by the relevant laws and state institutions.

“We are duly registered and approved as per the law. This is tantamount to double standards” Lule said

The executive further argues that this requirement is tantamount to double standards negating the purpose of registering.

He says CSOs work independently, non-partisan and non-political entities that cannot be directed to seek authority and or report to any state entity.

“CSOs are independent non-partisan and non-political entities. We cannot be directed to seek authority and or any state entity” he noted

The network, Lule says is again opposed to the proposed amendment to the Public Order Act 2019 (National Assembly Bills No 14 of 2019)

According to the CSOs the act require that persons organizing demonstration be held accountable for damage or property that results from the demonstration.

“We are opposed to the proposed to amendment to the public order act 2019” ho said

The Director says the provision contravenes constitutional guarantees under article 37 which safeguards the right to picket, assemble and demonstrate and the presentation of petition to public offices.

Kenya Community Support Centre Executive Director Phylis Muema argues that the constitutionally Kenyans are guaranteed their rights to access and give out information.

Muema argues that the amendments if implemented will paralyze efforts by civil society to champion for human rights in the country.

“If these amendments are implemented we fear that the voice of the civil society will be silenced” Muema said

The Executive urged the national assembly to revisit the statutes before passing into laws.

She called on the media to highlight the current amendments going on in the country.

“The national assembly should reread these amendments” she said  

She however warns that in case the amendments implemented and become law CSOs will present the matter before a court of law for determination.

Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid argues that Coast civil society groups will not relent in the fight for the rights of Kenyans.

“We shall not slow down. We shall not relent in this war” he noted

He says Coast CSOs will challenge the matter before a court of law, demonstrate and picket and further reject the laws if approved




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