These New security Laws will make terrorists and their sympathizers a VERY worried lot

The Kenyan government has presented proposed amendments to the national security laws which give more powers to the country’s security agencies and stipulate tougher penalties against terrorists and their sympathizers

The security Laws amendment bill of 2014 was tabled in parliament for the first reading, with the house resolving unanimously to reduce the bill’s publication period from 14 days to one day. This signifys the urgency with which the house wants the proposed changes to take effect

The bill was crafted by stake holders in the national security organs and its meant to provide a legal solution in the fight against terrorism and other organized crimes. It also seeks to tame the recent wave of striping women perceived to be indecently dressed, which has triggered a countrywide uproar

The country’s security bosses have proposed amendments to section 251 of the penal code, to impose a 20 year jail term for those found guilty of stripping other members of the public and subjecting them to humiliation. This should come as a relief to gender activists who recently took to the streets to demonstrate against the stripping of women in a protest dubbed #MyDressMyChoice.

The proposed amendments also seek to confront the threat of terror head on with statistics that Kenya had lost over 800 citizens in the last two decades since the country became the target of terror attacks.

If passed, the bill seeks a 20 year jail term for any person who advocates, glorifys or facilitates acts of terrorism in the country. A person found in possession of improvised explosive devices- IEDs, or components used to assemble such weapons for purposes of terrorism, will spend 20 years of his life behind bars.

In a move to tame the rising use of places of worship to plan and propagate terror related ideologies or store weapons, those found liable will be jailed for 30 years upon conviction.

The amendment further proposes that any person who publishes or utters a statement that is likely to be understood as directly or indirectly encouraging terrorism, will be liable to 14 years in jail. A non Kenyan who enters or passes through Kenya for purposes of engaging in terror activities will face a jail term of  30 years.

The media has also not been spared in the proposed amendments. The new laws propose that a person who without authorization from the national police service broadcasts information which undermines investigations or security operations related to terrorism will be subjected to a jail term of three years or a fine of Sh 5 million.