Residents boycott TV after channels switch off

Kakamega, Kenya: Majority of Kakamega residents are adamant that they will stay without watching TV until KTN, NTV and Citizen are returned on air by the Communications Authority.

A survey by The Standard in the town revealed unpreparedness to invest in the set top boxes required to receive the digital signal and a reluctance to "buy" news are among the factors that are contributing to the TV boycott.

David Shikala, a business man in Lurambi said he reads mischief into the move by the Government to "compel" Kenyans to watch certain channels.

"I fear that we could be returning to the dark ages where Government-friendly stations were allowed on air and assertive ones which command a wide viewership are shunned. We all watched the Supreme Court rule to grant broadcast rights to KTN, Citizen and NTV. Why is someone defying that? " he posed.

Moses Mulimi, the owner of Oasis Hotel, said he has already incurred huge losses after clients who used to watch news at his hotel 'vanished.'

He said although he is a pay TV subscriber, most residents prefer Kenyan channels which air local news.

"I used to have a lot of customers who used to come to this hotel especially to watch news, but I don't see them any more. Yes, I access some stations, but they are not satisfying my clients," he said.

 No interest

He added: "Today people come, eat and go without even caring to check if my TV is on."

Charles Atsulu, a driver in the town, said he now relies radio and newspaper for news following the switch off.

"I cant watch something that doesn't please me. I have decided that henceforth, I will only be using my TV set to watch movies until the standoff is resolved," he said.

Geoffrey Khasiani, a boda boda operator, said he would rather not comment about the switch off because he had other more important matters to worry about.

Majority of residents said they will stay put until the three stations unveil their boxes.