Government Threatens Media Blackout Over Protest Coverage
The Government, through the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), has issued a controversial directive ordering all television and radio stations to immediately cease live coverage of the ongoing anti-government protests sweeping across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, CA Director-General David Mugonyi warned broadcasters of regulatory consequences should they defy the directive.
“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” the statement read, further warning that “failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated in the Kenya Information and Communication Act, 1998.”
The move has sparked backlash from media houses, civil society groups, and ordinary Kenyans who view it as an outright attempt to suppress press freedom and deny the public access to real-time information.
Standard Group, one of Kenya’s leading media organizations, has responded defiantly. “We are consulting our lawyers to establish the legality of this order, which aims to plunge the country into a news blackout,” the company said in a statement, adding that its stations – KTN News, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM – will continue to broadcast in the public interest until the legal position is clarified.
According to sources within the media industry, the CA has also ordered signal distributors to take down any channels airing live footage of the protests. Editors from various media houses have confirmed receipt of the directive, even as Standard Group claims it has not officially received a copy.
This is not the first time such threats have been made. In June 2024, during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations that led to violent clashes and the storming of Parliament, the government similarly threatened to take KTN off the air for its live coverage of the events.
This year’s demonstrations, largely driven by Gen Z activists, mark the first anniversary of those historic protests. Thousands have flooded the streets of major towns, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru, calling for transparency, accountability, and the repeal of oppressive laws.
Observers say the CA’s directive is a blatant attempt to control the narrative and weaken public mobilization by cutting off real-time visual evidence of police actions and citizen responses.
Press freedom watchdogs and human rights organizations have condemned the move as unconstitutional, urging the government to respect media independence and the public’s right to information.
As the standoff continues, many are watching to see whether broadcasters will defy the directive – and if the government will follow through with its threats.
In other news:Heavy Police Barricades Lock Down Nairobi Ahead of June 25 Protests
Government Threatens Media Blackout Over Protest Coverage