Broadcast companies demonstrate against signal suspensions following court's command to CAK to reinstate transmissions
Three prominent Kenyan media outlets KTN, NTV, and K24 have cried foul after their television stations were abruptly cut off by the government's communications watchdog, The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK). In a swift retaliation, the media houses condemned the government for taking a heavy-handed approach as a blatant violation of press freedom and the public's right to information.
According to the media houses, their stations were taken off air on June 25, following a directive by the CAK. This move came as a surprise to their millions of viewers who tuned in to watch live coverage of nation-wide protests held to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations.
A furious Chacha Mwita, CEO of The Standard Group, which runs KTN, branded the decision as a direct assault on press freedom and a bulldozer of the Constitution that guarantees media freedom and safeguards against state interference in broadcasting and dissemination of information. In a strongly-worded statement, he noted that the decision contradicts recent High Court rulings which established the Media Council of Kenya as the sole authority to regulate broadcast content.
Mediamax, the group behind K24 shared similar sentiments, describing the move to shut down K24 as an affront on press freedom and the public's right to information by a free and independent media. According to Mediamax CEO Kenneth Ngaruiya, the media house will remain resilient and committed to providing credible journalism to Kenyans.
As the drama unfolded, CAK Director David Mugonyi maintained that the authority had acted within its mandated powers to protect citizens from potential unrest and promote national peace and cohesion. He cited Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution and Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, to justify the unprecedented move.
Mugonyi defended the move by citing previous instances where live coverage of violent demonstrations had caused panic, violence, and chaos among members of the public. However, legal experts and media institutions strongly contest the justification, arguing that CAK had bypassed proper legal channels and engaged in unlawful censorship.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for transparency and accountability from the government. A High Court judge later intervened in a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya, freezing CAK's order to stop live coverage of demonstrations and ordering all stations to resume broadcasting with immediate effect.
As the dust settles, will the government continue to suppress freedom of the press or resume its role as a guardian and promoter of democratic principles, including a free and independent media? Only time will tell.
In related news, the High Court has barred the President from appointing political allies to state corporations, while a Cabinet approved Bill aims to enforce the decision. Meanwhile, women senators have condemned alleged sexual assaults during the June 25 protests and Gachagua's DCP has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Stay tuned for more updates!
- The epaper edition of KTN and K24 vehemently critiqued the government's move to shut them down, stating it as an encroachment on press freedom.
- The sports section of various media outlets covered the controversy, linking it to a broader issue of the government's handling of press freedom in the country.
- The business section of a major newspaper published an analysis on the potential financial implications of the government's decision for the affected media houses.
- Radio programs across the nation debated the issue of press freedom, with some arguing that it was crucial for general-news consumption and maintaining a healthy democracy, while others justified the government's actions under war-and-conflicts or politics.
