Kenya: Calls to enact freedom of information legislation

Calls for government to pass a freedom of information bill are intensifying. "The (bill) will guarantee not only freedom for the media to access government information, but will also give the public the right to this information," the chairman of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) board of trustees, told IPS. The council is an independent body that seeks to improve journalistic standards. A draft Freedom of Information Bill has been drawn up, but has yet to be tabled in parliament. As it stands now, the constitution provides for freedom of expression, but fails to stipulate a right to information.