COTU-K Secretary General Francis Atwoli has criticised Kenyan media houses for defying a government directive that sought to halt live coverage of the June 25 protests.
Speaking during a media engagement, Atwoli questioned the decision by the Nation Media Group and Standard Group to go ahead with airing the demonstrations live on NTV and KTN, despite a directive from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) instructing all broadcasters to stop.
“I have been everywhere and I have never seen a government office directive being challenged in court,” Atwoli said.The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) claimed that airing the protests was crossing a line, even though the Constitution protects media freedom; they pointed to sections that say that freedom doesn’t include content that could stir up violence, hate, or ethnic tension.
After that warning, CA pulled the plug on KTN and NTV’s free-to-air signals at some major stations
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) moved to court and obtained conservatory orders blocking the CA from enforcing its ban.
Atwoli didn’t hold back in criticising that decision either, suggesting the orders were rushed through after hours.
“In the evening, they organised with a judge in court, with nobody in the office, and got an order directing the TV and radio stations to continue as usual,” he remarked.
