On Wednesday, the Government of Kenya issued a directive requiring all television and radio broadcasters to immediately cease live coverage of ongoing public protests. The order coincided with the one-year anniversary of widespread anti-government demonstrations that had drawn national and international attention.
In an official statement, the Communications Authority of Kenya asserted that the live transmission of the protests constituted a violation of constitutional and regulatory provisions governing broadcast content.
“This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith,” the Authority stated.
The demonstrations mark a year since a major wave of protests over economic grievances, during which security forces were reported to have killed no fewer than 60 individuals.
What began as a peaceful commemoration of the anniversary protests in Kenya escalated into violent confrontations, with demonstrators engaging in running clashes with police forces. Law enforcement responded by deploying tear gas and fortifying government premises with barbed wire barricades.
The government’s directive to prohibit live coverage of the demonstrations prompted widespread condemnation across social media platforms. Despite the official order, several major Kenyan media outlets appeared to persist with live broadcasts.
The Standard Group—operator of television, radio, and print media—issued a public statement characterizing the directive as an attempted “news blackout,” affirming its intention to continue with live coverage. The Group further alleged that the Communications Authority of Kenya had instructed signal carriers to “deplatform any media house” engaged in real-time broadcasting of the protests.
According to The Standard Group, comparable threats were made during the peak of the 2024 protests.
Amnesty International also issued a statement condemning the government’s actions, asserting that “silencing the press is not the solution.”#newsafro_
