c) any limitation of the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms
prescribed in this Chapter beyond what is acceptable and
demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society, or
what is provided for in this Constitution.
5
The freedom of expression and speech has been the subject of
interpretation by this court in various decisions including Charles
Onyango Obbo & Andrew Mujuni Mwenda v Attorney General,
Supreme Court Constitutional Appeal No. 2 of 2002 and Andrew
Mujuni
10
Mwenda
&
The
East
African
v
Attorney
General,
Constitutional Petitions No 12 of 2005 and No. 3 of 2006. The three
cases were about the freedom of expression as it related to the
established mass media at the time which predated the internet such
as newspapers, radio shows and television news programs. Today, these
media co-exist with the new media which are the outgrowth of the
15
technological innovations around the internet, and which are the
subject of this petition.
In Andrew Mujuni Mwenda & the East African (supra) the Supreme
Court considered the following two issues:
i) Whether sections 39, 40, 41 and 179 of the Penal Code Act, Cap
?o
120, are inconsistent with and or in contravention of Article 29
(l)(a) of the Constitution.
ii) Whether sections 39, 40, 41, and 179 of the Penal Code Act, Cap
120, being limitations of the enjoyment of the freedom of
25
expression are acceptable and demonstrably justifiable in a free
and
democratic
society
under
Article
43
(1)
(c)
of
the
Constitution.
In coming to their decision, the Supreme Court observed as follows:
30
“Our view is that the Supreme Court case of Charles Onyango Obbo
and Andrew Mwenda cited by all counsel, considered in depth and is
13