The High Court has extended orders stopping the digital migration.The CCK and the Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) to agree on another date for the digital migration after the March general elections.

Justice Isaac Lenaola has said the December 31 deadline for analogue television sets to be switched off was not timely because of the upcoming polls.

The consumer organization Cofek had filed a suit to challenge the December 31 deadline last year. The organisation said the move is unreasonable and expensive and most Kenyans do not have the cash to purchase the set-boxes to enable them switch from analogue to digital frequency.

The group also said the decision contravenes provisions of the constitution on public participation in policy formulation and implementation. This is because consumers are not represented on the digital television committee, which is spearheading the switch-off.

The High Court had issued a temporary order on December 20 last year halting the migration to digital broadcast in Nairobi that was set for December 31 until a the hearing today. Another hearing has been set for February 20.