NAIROBI, Kenya -- Fistfights and scuffles broke out in Kenya's parliament Thursday as legislators passed a controversial security measure that the government says will help fight terrorism but that critics say is meant to silence dissent by curtailing civil liberties.
Opposition legislators threw the papers on the floor and chaos broke out in which government supporters hit and tore the clothes of opposition Sen. Johnston Muthama, who was in the public gallery.
"This is unparliamentary. ... We can't have such kind of violence in a respected house," Muthama said, pointing to his torn clothes after recording a statement at the parliament police station.
The ruckus was broadcast on national television. Chaos began again in the afternoon after parliament twice adjourned in the morning. Legislators threw water at the Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso and books at speaker Justin Muturi. The new legislation was passed by acclamation amid shouting and throwing. Muturi was protected by a group of orderlies who surrounded the speakers' seat. The broadcast of parliament was stopped, and journalists were barred from covering the vote.
"We will move to court to challenge the constitutionality of this law," Senate Minority leader Moses Wetangula said. "It is illegal; we will challenge it."
The Security Laws Bill passed by parliament made changes to 21 laws touching on security.
There was a heavy police presence in the city center, which was increased after the fracas in parliament. Police fired warning shots in another part of the capital where pro-opposition youths had blocked the road.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had urged parliament to pass the measure, saying it will strengthen security following a series of terrorist attacks blamed on the Somali Islamic extremist group al-Shabab.
Nine western governments, including the United States and Britain, had urged Kenyan legislators to respect human rights while enacting the legislation.
The new law had been opposed by the media, human-rights groups and the main opposition coalition, which say it will restrict freedoms. Opposition legislators say the new law will infringe on civil liberties reminiscent of the autocratic regimes of Kenya's first two presidents: President Jomo Kenyatta -- the father of Kenya's current president -- and Daniel Arap Moi.
Among the changes government has proposed is a fine of $56,000, a three-year jail term or both on journalists whose stories are deemed to undermine terror investigations, a similar fine for media that publish pictures of terror victims without the permission of the police.
Information for this article was contributed by Khaled Kazziha of The Associated Press.
A Section on 12/19/2014