The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has threatened to withdraw broadcast licenses of local media houses if they don’t “exercise caution” while covering opposition protests.
According to the regulator, the stations were deemed to have covered the demonstrations in a way that violated the programming code.
CAK through its Director General Ezra Chiloba further gave strict instructions on how future live demonstrations should be covered.
“The Authority has established that at least Six TV stations, namely, Citizen TV, NTV, K24, KBC, TV47 and Ebru TV provided coverage in a manner that violated the programming code.
“The coverage depicted scenes that could cause panic or incitement to the public, threatening peace and cohesion in the country,” the statement from CAK read in part.
CAK revealed that live broadcasting of inciting scenes should not be hidden under the guise of freedom of the press.
“While the Authority promotes freedom of the press, it is imperative that all broadcasters exercise caution in live broadcast coverage in order to avoid scenes that would be detrimental to peace and cohesion,” the media stations were warned.
Chiloba warned that the TV stations would be switched off should they not moderate their live coverage in subsequent mass rallies.
“Failure to adhere to the outlined obligations shall be acting in breach of licence conditions, which shall attract liability under relevant provisions of the law, including revocation of broadcast licence and/or broadcast frequencies,” he warned.
It said the code does not allow the airing of “violent, sensational or alarming details that are not essential to factual reporting”.
This comes after police on Monday engaged opposition supporters in running battles in the capital, Nairobi. One university student was reportedly shot dead by police in the western town of Kisumu.
The opposition accuses the government of being “illegitimate” and of failing to tackle the high cost of living.
Local television stations gave live coverage of the protests – including airing clashes between police and protesters.
Television cameras also followed the convoy of opposition leader Raila Odinga as he drove through Nairobi’s residential suburbs to rally his supporters.
Mr Odinga has said the protests will be held every Monday and Thursday from next week.
