The Kenyan government shutdown of the three largest private TV channels has been suspended by the high court pending a full hearing.<\/p>\n
The channels were shut down as they planned to broadcast opposition leader Raila Odinga’s unofficial “inauguration” in Nairobi.<\/p>\n
Mr Odinga lost last year’s election and his swearing-in was widely seen as a publicity stunt.<\/p>\n
Five civil society organisations asked the State to unconditionally restore TV transmission for three stations that it shut on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking during a press briefing, NMG Editor-in-Chief Tom Mshindi termed the government shutdown move as “a sad moment for media freedom in Kenya.”<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the fraternity that we are in, together with the civil society organisations, we must stand very firm together because if we don\u2019t, we will perish. We will go back to the days we don\u2019t want to even remember,\u201d Mr Mshindi said..<\/p>\n
Mr Mshindi spoke alongside leaders of the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR), Amnesty International, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, Article 19 and Katiba Institute.<\/p>\n
The organisations said in a joint statement that the government\u2019s closure of TV stations is \u201ca serious threat to the freedom of the media at a delicate political situation in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the authorities to stop intimidating the mass media and unconditionally restore the right of Kenyan citizens to a free press. Journalism is not a crime. The government must respect our Constitution at all times,\u201d they said in a statement read by KNCHR\u2019s vice chair George Morara.<\/p>\n
Mr Henry Maina, the regional director of Article 19 Eastern Africa, asked the government to use legal means if it has a matter to address with the media.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t switch off a TV then say you have started investigations. What made you switch it off? If you didn\u2019t know there was a reason, then let them return on air,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe illegal act of forcefully switching off the TV stations is an economic sabotage. It has a big economic cost to the media houses and to investors. How is Kenya going to turn around and invite more people to invest in this digital economy that we\u2019re creating when there is uncertainty that rule of law will be followed?\u201d questioned the human rights lawyer.<\/p>\n
Mr Houghton Irungu, the executive director of Amnesty International Kenya, also demanded that the Communication Authority director-general Francis Wangusi be admitted back to office as directed by a court.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless we see the reinstatement of a credible Communication Authority for this country, we\u2019ll not see a fair and neutral arbitrator in this process. This is very dangerous for democracy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Added Mr Irungu: \u201cWe need to be very clear that a free Press is the foundation for democracy. There is no democracy in this world that exists without a free Press.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the briefing, it emerged that the journalists\u2019 union is planning legal action against various State actors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to have multiple applications in court. Some of the applications are going to target individuals who are giving all these orders to police and even the Communications Authority,\u201d Eric Oduor, the secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Journalists said.<\/p>\n
Mr Maina added: \u201cThere are going to be multiple applications by different actors; some who are here, and some who are elsewhere because we are clear that if we do not engage into this process legally, then there is going to be a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source:\u00a0nation.co.ke<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"