Kenyan court rejects clauses of controversial security law

Kenyan High Court on Monday declared eight clauses of the controversial new security law unconstitutional.

The high court judges annulled sections which they said violate the freedom of the media, refugees and those that stifle Kenyan's civil rights among others.

In their ruling, the judges led by Justice Isaac Lenaola said that one cannot wait until their rights are violated before they move to court to seek redress.

The three judges also ruled that the main challenge to security in Kenya is lack of effective ways to implement laws and not lack of proper legislation.

The court had suspended parts of the anti-terror law in January when the case seeking its nullification had first come before them.

The ruling was on a case filed by the main opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) challenging the anti-terror laws.

CORD led by ex-Prime Minister Raila Odinga complained that government broke all the rules of procedure in the National Assembly to pass the bill.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenya said the new security law did not go against the bill of rights or any provision of the constitution. He argued the new law is needed to deal with attacks by Al-Shabaab militants who control of parts of neighboring Somalia and have been involved in terror attacks against Kenyan targets.

On Dec. 11, 2014, the government sent to the parliament the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 which contains a wide array of amendments to 21 laws and was later adopted by parliament.

The East African nation has faced increased attacks targeting civilians since 2011, when its troops entered Somalia in the context of military operations against Al-Shabaab. Endi