Government threatens media blackout over protests coverage

The Communications Authority of Kenya has ordered all television and radio stations to stop the live coverage of the ongoing protests.

In a statement to newsrooms, CA Director-General David Mugonyi warned of unspecified action against broadcasters who defy the directive.

“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” the statement reads in part.

It further states: “Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated in the Kenya Information and Communication Act, 1998.”

In response, The Standard Group says it will seek legal redress to establish the legality of the order.

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A letter from the Communication Authority of Kenya has issued a directive to all television and radio stations to immediately stop all live broadcasts of demonstrations, failure to which it will take regulatory action.

We are aware that that the Communication Authority has also ordered signal carriers to offline and deplatform any media house doing live broadcast of the demos.

As we continue broadcasting in the public interest, our position is that the order is illegal and directly contravenes Sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution – the supreme law of the land. In addition, KICA 1998 does not give the CA the mandate or authority to act as threatened. Consequently, we will sue any signal carrier who switches our channels off air without any explanation that can stand the scrutiny of the law, justice, fairness and reason. We expect contractual obligations to be observed in full; any breach thereof would undoubtedly trigger pursuit of legal redress, including compensation for losses.

We ask the CA to withdraw the threat and encourage it to conduct its regulatory role in accordance with the law of the land and that of natural justice.

                                    Chief Executive Editor Chaacha Mwita

The directive has been widely seen as an attempt to gag the media and suppress real-time coverage of protests that continue to gain momentum across the country.

Kenya Editors Guild President Zubeida Kananu has criticised the directive and further accused the Authority of usurping powers of the Media Council of Kenya, which is mandated to handle complaints against the media.

“What I read in this is interference. They are trying to control the media. They have done this, not once or twice, before. Why can’t they let the media exercise their duty and mandate to inform Kenyans on what is going on?” Kananu posed.

“It is very unfortunate. We have had this conversation for a very long time. We’ve had court cases to determine who is in control of the broadcast media,” she said.

Kenyans have come out in large numbers to mark the first anniversary of last year’s anti-tax demonstrations.

On this day in June 2024, the government threatened to shut down KTN for airing live footage of the deadly uprising, including the moment angry protesters breached Parliament.