Media firms given 10 days to file responses

NAIROBI, KENYA: The digital migration case before the Supreme Court will proceed after lawyers for three media firms file and serve their responses to the Government’s appeal.

It emerged yesterday that the three media firms: the Standard Group, Nation Media Group, and Royal Media Services had not filed and served responses as required.

Lawyers Issa Mansur and Paul Muite, for the media firms, were directed to within 10 days file the responses and take a mention date to confirm compliance.

Supreme Court judges Smokin Wanjala and Jackton Ojwang’ maintained their orders that Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) should not switch off their frequencies, broadcast spectrums or broadcasting services pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The Supreme Court also barred Broadcast Signal Distributors Signet Kenya Limited and Pan Africa Network Group Kenya Limited and Pay TV providers: Star Times Media Limited, and GOtv Kenya Limited from broadcasting any content from the three media firms without their consent, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

third licence

The Government appealed the decision of the Court of Appeal judges Roselyne Nambuye, Daniel Musinga and David Maraga on the grounds that it could not issue a third licence as directed by the court to a consortium of the media firms.

The Constitution provides that the officials of the Communication Authority of Kenya be independent, however, the team that awarded digital licences, CCK, was appointed by the Executive.

Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has described the legal duel as a hitch to the process.

“The Communication Authority of Kenya is in place,” said Matiang’i.