A human rights network wants the public allowed more time to critique the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill, which they said violates the Constitution.
The Western Kenya Human Rights Network said most citizens did not understand the Bill, which seeks to enhance security by introducing amendments to the existing 21 laws.
Antonina Okuta, the network coordinator critiqued 12 amendments proposed by controversial draft law as intrusive to fundamental human rights, which it said can only be legally changed through a referendum.
“Several provisions of the Bill are not subjected to the Constitution or the existing legal systems, leaving margins for human rights and freedoms violation if passed as is,” said Okuta.
“It also seeks to rewrite the constitution by introducing limitations to these rights and freedoms through the backdoor,” she added.
She argued that although the proposed laws look harmless at face value, they are not subjected to the constitution and therefore violate its provisions.
Okuta added that the proposed draft law was being rushed and that the public risked being locked out of participation despite several direct effects.
The network accused the presidency of dragging the nation back to the dark ages through “suspicious amendments to Penal code, the Public Order Act, the Criminal Procedure code, Evidence act, Registration of Persons Act, Refugees Act among others.”