Kenyan Activists Condemn Media Ban, Threaten Legal Action Over Protest Coverage Clampdown

A coalition of Kenyan civil society groups and professional bodies has denounced the Communications Authority of Kenya's directive barring live broadcasts of ongoing nationwide protests, warning it violates constitutional freedoms and court rulings, and vowing legal action if reversed.

In a joint statement, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Kenya Medical Association (KMA), and the Police Reforms Working Group (PRWG-K), among others, called the media blackout a "dangerous step toward suppressing fundamental freedoms" and an unlawful attempt to censor the press.

The CA had justified the move under Article 33(2) of the Constitution, which prohibits incitement to violence and hate speech, but the coalition dismissed this reasoning.

"Live broadcasts are a democratic necessity. They inform the public, deter abuse by authorities, and promote transparency and accountability," the statement emphasized.

The coalition highlighted that the ban contradicts a November 2024 High Court ruling that declared prior CA attempts to regulate media content unconstitutional and affirmed the Media Council of Kenya as the sole broadcast regulator.

Medical professionals raised alarms about the directive hindering access to emergency health services for injured protesters, bystanders, and police officers, threatening the constitutional right to safety under Article 29.

Even more troubling were reports of a possible internet shutdown that could plunge Kenya's 56 million citizens into an information blackout--an act that would defy a 2023 court ruling protecting internet access as fundamental to press freedom under Article 34.

The coalition gave the CA and its CEO a deadline of 4:00 p.m. to revoke the directive or face institutional and individual legal action.

They urged broadcasters to comply with the law and court decisions and advised the public to remain calm and use VPNs to access information.

The statement received backing from more than 20 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission, FIDA-Kenya, Katiba Institute, HAKI Africa, Defenders Coalition, and Transparency International Kenya.

The protests across Kenya focus on demands for economic reform, anti-corruption measures, and greater political accountability.

Read the original article on Nile Post.