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.
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.
