Some of our so-called leaders should be ashamed of themselves. Of course, we 
cannot and need not ask them to emulate Mr. Kibaki's example because they 
are trembling bundles of insecurity and paranoia. However, we should thrust 
this story into their faces and force them to see what it is like to be a 
secure leader. Only those who have proverbial skeletons in their rickety 
cupboards are afraid of free and vibrant media.

Baba


By Adam Mynott
BBC News, Nairobi

Kenya's leader rejects media bill
Journalists say anonymous sources have helped expose major scandals

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has refused to sign into law a bill which has 
been condemned as a crude attempt to muzzle the media.

Mr Kibaki said the bill posed a threat to Kenya's recent democratic gains, 
and it would be sent back to parliament.

The bill would have allowed courts to force reporters to reveal sources.

Hundreds of Kenyan journalists rallied outside the Kenyan parliament last 
week with their mouths symbolically clamped shut with sticky tape.

Robust media

In a statement, President Kibaki described the bill "as a threat to the 
democratic gains that Kenya has made in the recent past".

Mr Kibaki has described the bill as a "threat" to democracy

There were a number of controversial provisions in the bill, but the one 
that attracted the fury of Kenyan journalists was a clause allowing courts 
to force them to reveal their sources.

Kenya has a robust media.

It has used anonymous sources to expose a number of cases of corruption at 
the heart of the government, which have cost the taxpayer millions of 
dollars.

The bill will now be returned to parliament.

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