Unbowed: Media Houses Defy CA Directive to Stop Live Coverage of Gen Z Protests, Term It Illegal
- Media houses, including the Standard Group, have rejected CA's alleged media blackout directive, vowing to continue live coverage of protests in the public interest
- KTN and affiliated radio stations said they have not received official notice, but confirmed similar threats were issued to other media houses
- Standard Group said they are consulting lawyers on the legality of the order, warning it could plunge the country into an information blackout
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has come under fire after issuing a directive warning all media houses to stop live coverage of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests across the country.
Source: Getty Images
The demonstrations, held to honour youths killed during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, began peacefully but quickly turned chaotic as police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse the crowds.
Amid the unrest, media outlets received orders from the CA demanding an immediate halt to live broadcasts.
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Despite the warning, several stations defied the directive and continued coverage uninterrupted.
Was Standard Group served with a stop order?
The Standard Group—parent company of KTN and affiliated radio stations including Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM—issued a firm statement in response to the directive, which it said it had not officially received.
"We are consulting our lawyers to establish the legality of this order, which aims to plunge the country into a news blackout. Meanwhile, we will continue broadcasting in the public interest until the legal position is confirmed," the statement read in part.
According to the statement, editors from other media houses confirmed receipt of similar communication, raising alarm over government attempts to restrict press freedom and limit access to real-time information during a critical moment in the country’s political climate.
Sources also indicate that the CA instructed signal carriers to deplatform any media outlet broadcasting the protests live, a move that could lead to a dangerous information blackout.
The Standard Group said it is consulting with legal experts to determine the legality of the order.
In the meantime, the company vowed to continue live coverage in the public interest until the matter is resolved.
"We are consulting our lawyers to establish the legality of this order, which aims to plunge the country into a news blackout. Meanwhile, we will continue broadcasting in the public interest until the legal position is confirmed.
“This is not the first time such threats have been issued,” the Group noted, referencing a similar attempt by authorities during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, when demonstrators stormed Parliament in opposition to the controversial tax proposals.
Kenya Editors' Guild demands withdrawal of CA notice
The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) also condemned a directive, describing the move as a blatant violation of the Constitution, an attack on press freedom, and a threat to public accountability.
In an official statement signed by KEG President Zubeidah Kananu, the Guild stated that the directive, referenced as CA/CE/BC/TV 90A, flies in the face of Kenya’s legal and democratic principles.
KEG argued that the CA’s justification—citing Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution—is both legally and factually incorrect.
Those articles, the Guild clarified, were written to protect freedom of expression and the media, only restricting speech that constitutes hate speech, incitement to violence, or propaganda for war.
Responsible journalism, particularly live and factual reporting, does not fall under those restrictions, KEG said.
KEG demanded the immediate withdrawal of the directive, respect for the standing court ruling, and protection of the public’s right to access live and accurate information.
The Guild also called on Parliament and the Judiciary to urgently investigate the CA’s actions and ensure compliance with constitutional standards.
It urged media houses to stand firm, continue reporting truthfully, and seek legal redress if threatened.
In its closing remarks, KEG underscored that Article 34 of the Constitution guarantees media freedom, while Article 35 ensures public access to information—both of which, it said, are under direct attack by the CA’s actions.
“The Kenya Editors’ Guild stands ready to support any legal challenge against this unconstitutional directive,” said Kananu. “During moments of civic unrest, the only crisis greater than the protest itself is the silencing of the voices that tell its story.”
What else should you know about the June 25 protests?
- The government switched off signals for NTV Kenya and KTN News moments after the directive
- Some protesters set Kikuyu Law Courts on fire and vandalised sub-county offices as tension grew
- A section of Gen Z protesters were captured urging a cop to shout 'wantam' during the demonstrations
What did Caleb Amisi say about the Gen Z protests?
Meanwhile, Saboti MP Caleb Amisi criticised the government’s directive to halt live media coverage of the ongoing protests, calling it the beginning of anarchy.
Source: Twitter
He argued that if international missile attacks can be broadcast live, there is no justification for censoring coverage of tear gas canisters on Kenyan streets.
Amisi emphasised the importance of upholding media freedom and the constitutional right to information, adding that Kenya is in need of a national renaissance.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
