GOVERNMENT SWITCHES OFF BROADCAST SIGNALS FOR NTV AND KTN 

The Kenyan government, through the Communications Authority (CA), has taken NTV (Nation Media Group) and KTN (Standard Group) off the air for defying its directive against live coverage of today’s memorial protests. 

The CA disabled the stations’ ADN signals shortly after ordering all media outlets to halt broadcasts of the demonstrations. NTV publicly accused the CA of signal interference, “Nation Media Group strongly condemns the illegal switch off of NTV signal by Communications Authority; affirms its commitment to fair, balanced, and credible journalism,” read a post on NTV’s X account. 

In an official notice dated June 25 and sent to broadcasters, the regulator cited violations of the Kenyan Constitution particularly Articles 33(2) and 34(1) as well as Section 46I of the Kenya Information and Communications Act (1998). The directive, issued by CAK Director General and CEO David Mugonyi (EBS), stated that airing the demonstrations live breaches legal provisions.

Broadcasters were warned that non-compliance could lead to sanctions under existing media regulations. While the Authority did not specify the exact penalties, it stressed the need for immediate adherence. “All television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstration fourth. Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated in the Kenya Information and communications Act 1998.” the notice read in part.