The High Court has extended orders suspending a directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) that sought to ban live television and radio coverage of anti-government protests held on June 25.
The matter was mentioned on Wednesday before Justice Chacha Mwita, who directed that it be mentioned again on October 27 for further directions. The extension means media houses can continue broadcasting live protest events as legal scrutiny of the ban continues.
The case was initially filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which secured conservatory orders last week. The LSK argued that the CA’s directive violated constitutional guarantees on press freedom and the public’s right to access information.
In Wednesday’s session, the court noted that several applications challenging the directive raised similar legal questions and should therefore be consolidated into one proceeding. This came after it emerged that the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) had filed two separate petitions over the same matter.
The CA had ordered all broadcasters to immediately stop airing live footage of the June 25 demonstrations, citing public order concerns. However, critics, including civil society and media rights groups, condemned the move as an unconstitutional attempt to suppress transparency and freedom of expression.
The court’s decision to extend the suspension marks a continued legal battle over the limits of regulatory authority in media oversight and the balance between national security and civil liberties.
Written By Rodney Mbua
