Three Kenyan TV stations still off air

Three major TV  stations were shut down on Tuesday after they protested an order by the  Kenyan government not to air the mock swearing-in ceremony of opposition figure Raila Odinga.

The Communications Authority of Kenya switched off the signals of NTV, owned by Nation Media Group, Citizen TV of Royal Media Services Limited, and  KTN.

According to media reports, this followed a meeting between Kenya Editors Guild and State House during which they were warned against covering the event.  The three stations were switched off after they reportedly refused to heed the warning.

EDITORS statement on Govt threats on media. pic.twitter.com/JQJMdMS3QH

— Linus Kaikai (@LinusKaikai) January 29, 2018

On Wednesday night, three NTV journalists spent the night in the newsrooms after receiving information that they might be arrested.

Journalists holed up in their newsroom as police prowl outside: @Reuters on media freedom in #Kenya today https://t.co/zy6RFGBqFH

— Tristan McConnell (@t_mcconnell) February 1, 2018

According to a Citizen TV story, plainclothes officers reportedly camped outside  Nation Centre on Wednesday evening, “to allegedly arrest the three journalists for unclear reasons.”

NTV journalists spend night at Nation Centre fearing arrest https://t.co/skeYvYjz7K pic.twitter.com/fyaLp91Mkl

— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 1, 2018

By Thursday afternoon, the three were stations still off air. The Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i  said the government was investigating the “role of some elements in the media fraternity who participated in the furtherance of an attempt to subvert or overthrow the government”.

KENYA’S Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i says all TV stations closed yesterday will remain shut until investigations on certain individuals are completed.

— The EastAfrican (@The_EastAfrican) January 31, 2018

However, at about 2 pm, the High Court ordered the government to immediately restore all TV transmissions and barred the government from interfering with all television transmissions until February 14 when the case against the stations will be heard. 

COURT ORDERS CA to restore media transmission and Govt not to interfere with operations of media houses; case to be heard on Feb 14. pic.twitter.com/EzFJLJH2Qi

— NationBreakingNews (@NationBreaking) February 1, 2018

Many spoke out against the actions of the government and called for the reopening of the TV stations. In a stinging editorial, the Daily Nation told the government, “The freedom of the media is not a token privilege that the government of the day can give and take at will.”

NMG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Tom Mshindi terms Govt closure of TV stations a sad moment for media freedom in Kenya; civil society groups to sue State. pic.twitter.com/BKoeqvsALG

— NationBreakingNews (@NationBreaking) February 1, 2018

More on the shutdown

Rights groups, journalists condemn TV shutdown

Kenya: Media Barred From Opposition Event 

Kenya’s media freedom is ‘largely unfree’, new report shows

‘Alarming’ media crackdown leaves Kenyan broadcasters off air

Kenya media shutdown sparks outrage and concern