KTN, NTV back on air after court freezes CA's broadcast ban

Standard Media Group Headquarters along Mombasa Road. [File] The Communications Authority of Kenya on Thursday reactivated the signals of media houses following double orders from the High Court. On Thursday, more cases were filed challenging the Authority's orders to stop the live transmission of Gen Z's protests. Standard Group PLC's Kenya Television Network (KTN) and Nation Television (NTV) were back on air on Thursday after the Authority plunged Kenyans into darkness on Wednesday. In the CA's case, the High Court dealt it a second blow by freezing its orders on live coverage of Gen Z protests, as the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Media Lawyers Association of Kenya filed a third case challenging the directive. Justice John Chigiti was the second judge to issue the orders after Justice Chacha Mwita, suspending the order by CA's director, David Mugonyi. The judge directed that the case filed by Katiba Institute be heard on 7 July 2025. In the KUJ and MLA case, the court heard that the decision to suspend live transmission violated the right to information and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In their case filed before Justice Lawrence Mugambi, they claimed that the agency led by Mary Wambui also violated freedom of expression, media freedom, and transparency. The court heard that although Mugonyi cited the law, he did not disclose which part of the broadcast the media houses had violated. KUJ and MLA accused the CA of overreach. The two argued that the state agency had no powers or authority to dictate how any media house conducts its programming. They asserted that there was no justification for taking such a drastic move. The court documents filed on Thursday stated: "The decision of the first respondent to ban live transmission of demonstrations violated the right to freedom of expression, freedom of the media, and access to information under Articles 33, 34 and 35 of the Constitution." KUJ and MLA sued the CA, the Attorney General, Pan African Network Group (PANG), and Signet Group. They also named The Standard Group PLC (SG), Nation Media Group (NMG), Royal Media Services (RMS), and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) as interested parties. The court heard that after the CA issued the order, it raided the satellite sites of the media houses and switched off the transmission. At the same time, PANG and Signet were accused of also switching off the media houses on the free-to-air platforms. "As at the time of the instant application, broadcast content from the interested parties has not been available on the digital terrestrial platforms controlled by the 3rd and 4th respondents," said KUJ and MLA. Meanwhile, Chief Justice Martha Koome was dismayed after Kikuyu Law Court buildings were torched on Wednesday. The CJ, during her visit to the court, said it was illegal for persons to destroy the court, as it was setting back the strides made to ensure justice was brought closer to the people. She stated that building a court is a painstaking process, which involves negotiations with the National Assembly and the Executive, within a constrained budget. "The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) applied to the magistrate's court to detain former boxing captain Suleiman Wanjau and ex-Harambee Stars player Robert Otiti for ten days at Capitol Hill Police Station to investigate alleged computer misuse and cybercrime offences," said Justice Koome. Meanwhile, two sportsmen were arraigned in court over alleged posts urging protestors to head to State House. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) applied to the magistrate's court to detain former boxing captain Suleiman Wanjau and ex-Harambee Stars player Robert Otiti for ten days at Capitol Hill Police Station to investigate alleged computer misuse and cybercrime offences. Police Sergeant Samuel Itegi, in the application filed before Milimani magistrate Dolphina Alego, claimed that Wanjau and Otiti allegedly posted false information about the protests and a viral timetable about the day's events. He further claimed that he suspected they were among the individuals who infiltrated the peaceful protests and engaged in unlawful acts, including vandalism. "Being mobilisers, the respondents, if released, may interfere with potential witnesses who are yet to be interviewed and their statements recorded," claimed Itegi. In response, Wanjau and Otiti's lawyers Babu Owino, John Maina, and Abna Mango opposed the application, arguing that there was no solid evidence to link the two to any criminal act. The court will deliver its ruling today.

KTN, NTV back on air after court freezes CA's broadcast ban

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