ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
Books and Newspapers Act
19. Power to seize certain books, etc., and to search premises
Edition: 2022-12-31 · In force
19. Power to seize certain books, etc., and to search premises
(1)Any police officer may seize any book or newspaper, wherever found, which has been printed or published, or which he reasonably suspects to have been printed or published, in contravention of this Act.(2)Any magistrate may by warrant authorize any police officer not below the rank of Assistant Inspector, with or without assistance, to enter and search any place where it is reasonably suspected that any books or newspapers printed or published in contravention of this Act are being kept or that any other offence under this Act or any rules thereunder has been, is being or is about to be committed, and to seize any books and newspapers found therein which he reasonably suspects to have been so printed or published, together with any other evidence of the commission of an offence under this Act or any rules thereunder which may be there found.(3)If any police officer not below the rank of Assistant Inspector has reasonable cause to believe that the delay which would occur in obtaining a search warrant under subsection (2) would, or would tend to, defeat the purposes of this Act, he may, without warrant, exercise the powers described in that subsection as if he had obtained a search warrant thereunder.(4)Any book, newspaper or other thing seized under this section shall be brought as soon as practicable before a magistrate, who may, if he is satisfied that the book or newspaper was printed or published in contravention of this Act or any rules thereunder, or that such other thing has been used in the commission of an offence under this Act or any rules thereunder, order that it be forfeited or destroyed.