Kenya’s Communications Authority Bans Live Coverage of June 25 Protests

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has today instructed all television and radio broadcasters to cease live coverage of demonstrations commemorating the anniversary of the 25 June 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests. 

This directive marks a significant departure from the previous year, when similar protests were broadcast extensively without state intervention. CA Director General David Mugonyi, in a formal statement issued to news organisations, asserts that the live broadcast of the ongoing protests contravenes Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution of Kenya, which address freedom of expression and media independence, and Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998. 

Mugonyi states that continued live coverage violates existing legal boundaries. The directive comes amid widespread demonstrations across major urban centres, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Nakuru. Thousands of protesters, predominantly from the Gen Z demographic, are participating in commemorations of the violent clashes from last year, which resulted in dozens of fatalities and numerous injuries. 

Protesters demand police accountability, justice for the victims, and broader governance reforms. The CA's intervention has ignited concerns over press freedom within the country. 

The directive is expected to draw criticism from civil society organisations, opposition figures, and international watchdogs, who view the move as an attempt to suppress transparency and limit public access to real-time information during periods of unrest. 

The CA's letter to media houses states, "This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstration forthwith." 

The letter warns that non-compliance may trigger punitive measures under existing communications legislation.