The High Court in Kenya on Thursday ordered the government to suspend the shutdown of three TV stations.
The three stations which are Kenya’s biggest television stations were taken off-air until on Tuesday for planning t to broadcast the opposition leader Raila Odinga’s “inauguration” in Nairobi as the “people’s president”.
NTV, KTN and Citizen TV went off-air shortly before the actual event took place and the government decided to extend the shutdown further.
The stations were warned not to cover the ceremony stating that the inauguration of Raila Odinga as “the people’s president” was treasonable.
Government expected to restore NTV, Citizen TV & KTN News signals after High Court suspends switch off for 14 days pending case being heard.
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 1, 2018
The court said the ban would be suspended for 14 days while the case was heard.
Odinga and his coalition party boycotted last year’s re-run presidential poll claiming the electoral commission failed to provide an even playing field for a free and fair election.
A court challenge to the victory of President Uhuru Kenyatta failed to succeed after the Supreme Court ruled that Kenyatta’s victory was legitimate.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November last year after winning the repeat presidential election held in October.
Kenya’s interior minister, Fred Matiangi said on Wednesday in a statement that “What was witnessed at Uhuru Park was a well-choreographed attempt to subvert or overthrow the legally-constituted government of the Republic of Kenya.”
“Some elements in the media fraternity participated in furtherance of this illegal act,” he added.
The lawyer and MP who swore Odinga in as the “people’s president”, TJ Kajwang is facing trial for his action after his arrest on Wednesday.
Source: Africafeeds.com
