KEG, journalists' union condemn directive to halt protests live coverage

Kenya Editors’ Guild Zubeidah Kananu and Secretary General Kenya Union of Journalists Erick Oduor.

The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) has condemned a directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to ban live broadcasts of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests.

In a statement, the editors described the directive as a gross violation of the Constitution and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

“This directive is a gross violation of the Constitution and an affront to press freedom and public accountability. KEG demands immediate withdrawal, CA must rescind this illegal directive without delay,” stated the Guild’s editor, Zubeidah Kananu.

Citing Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution, Kananu stated that freedom of expression and the media are only limited in cases involving hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda for war.

Kananu further urged the Communications Authority to comply with court orders that had previously restrained it from interfering with live media broadcasts.

“By ignoring this ruling, CA is actively undermining judicial authority and reopening the door to unconstitutional state censorship,” she added.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) has also condemned the directive and urged media houses to defy the order.

“We remind the CA that, according to the recent High Court ruling, it lacks the mandate to regulate broadcast content. The notice by CA not only threatens the sustainability of responsible journalism but also risks eroding the media's ability to fulfil its duty to society in a landscape where reporting is protected and not undermined by political pressures,” KUJ stated.

The union warned that attempts to disrupt or suspend internet services violate constitutional rights and the rule of law.

“It is for this reason that we are calling upon all media houses to defy this directive and continue with their normal programming without fear,” KUJ directed.

Additionally, KUJ condemned the shooting of NTV journalist Ruth Sarmwei with a rubber bullet while she was covering protests in Nakuru on Tuesday.

Also weighed in, Public Service Governance CEO Esther Waringa, also condemning the incident, terming it a threat to press freedom and public trust.

Waringa urged the government to reconsider the directive, saying, “The directive to restrict or halt live broadcasting by media houses during this critical period is deeply concerning. Such actions risk further inflaming public sentiment and may unintentionally erode the very trust we are striving to rebuild.”