Det drejer om otte bestemmelser i den nye omfattende lov, som oppositionen mener vil forvandle Kenya til en “politi-stat” – slag for regeringen, som vil have loven igennem hurtigst muligt efter flere terrorangreb.
The High Ccourt blocked the eight clauses until a legal challenge mounted by the opposition and rights groups is heard, BBC online reports Friday.
The government says the measures are necessary following a wave of attacks by Somalia-based Islamist militants.
Some 500,000 Somali refugees live in Kenya and the government suspects some of them have links to al-Shabab militants. There have been two major al-Shabab attacks in north-eastern Kenya recently.
The court suspended measures which could jail journalists who “undermine investigations or security operations relating to terrorism”, and limit the number of refugees and asylum-seekers to 150,000 – those applying for refugee status are not allowed to leave camps.
The security law prescribes long jail terms for anyone convicted of terror-related offences, in particular anyone found with weapons inside a place of worship.
Owners of buildings or institutions, or persons in charge of public places who fail to prevent entry of weapons into such areas can also be liable to 30 years in jail.
Terror suspects can be detained for 24 hours before being presented to court. They can then be held for up to 30 days.
The High Court ruling is a big blow to the government – more about the court at http://www.judiciary.go.ke/portal/page/high-court
The court ruling is only the first step – the real test will be once the case proper begins later this month. The country’s new constitution, passed only four years ago, was hailed for guaranteeing human rights and liberties, which critics of the security law say will now be curtailed.
The government will appeal against the ruling. Only eight clauses have been suspended, out of more than 100.
