June 25 Protests: CA Raids NTV's Transmission Stations, Switches Off Free-to-Air Signal
- CA officials raided NTV and Citizen TV transmission sites and switched off their free-to-air signals during the June 25 protests
- The move followed a directive banning live coverage of Gen Z-led demos, with CA citing national security and public order concerns
- NTV confirmed its Limuru facility was targeted, saying some viewers could no longer access the station via traditional TV
- Standard Media Group's broadcasts was also disrupted, with widespread signal loss reported across the country
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
In a dramatic escalation of the government’s media crackdown during the ongoing June 25 protests, officials from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) have raided transmission stations linked to NTV Kenya, KTN and Citizen TV.
Source: UGC
The officials, accompanied by a contingent of armed officers, forcefully switched off their free-to-air broadcast signals.
The raid comes just hours after the CA issued a controversial directive instructing all television and radio stations to immediately cease live coverage of the Gen Z-led protests marking the anniversary of the deadly 2024 demonstrations.
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The authority claimed the coverage violated Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution, citing national security and public order concerns.
In a live video update shared online, NTV confirmed that its transmission facility in Limuru had been targeted.
Can Kenyans watch switched-off stations?
Journalists reporting from the studio said officials forcibly cut the signal, rendering the station unavailable on free-to-air platforms.
"We've received information that the Communications Authority has raided NTV's transmission station, forcefully switching off the free-to-air signals. What does that mean for us? It means that some of our viewers can no longer access us on traditional TV, particularly on free-to-air set-top boxes," said the journalists
Despite the disruption, the station reassured its audience that content would still be accessible via its digital platforms.
"We are still available online on YouTube, X, Facebook, and our website. You can still get our live stream and all the stories we’re updating on our live blog," the anchors added.
Source: Facebook
Standard Media Group also suffered the same fate, with the officials turning off their signals on mainstream.
However, just like NTV, KTN explained that they would remain online on their digital platforms for live information.
"I've also been informed that they've raided NTV's Limuru transmission and switched it off. Which is against the law. You know, it's unconstitutional. The courts were very clear when they issued the judgment last year, so I don't know what CA is using to switch off media houses, and this is free-to-air that has been affected the most. So action will be taken. We will seek legal redress on this matter, and we'll keep the country informed on what is going on," reported KTN anchors as the news streamed in.
Why is gagging Kenyan media dangerous?
In a related report, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi condemned the Communications Authority of Kenya’s directive halting live broadcasts of the Gen Z-led protests.
The lawmaker called it a dangerous move that undermines press freedom and signals creeping authoritarianism.
He warned that censoring real-time coverage “is the beginning of anarchy,” questioning why global conflicts get live coverage while local protests do not.
He stressed that media freedom and the public’s right to information are constitutional rights essential for a democratic renaissance.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
