Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper and Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-K have come out strongly against the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) following its directive ordering all TV and radio stations to halt live coverage of the June 25 protests. The demonstrations mark the first anniversary of the deadly anti-Finance Bill protests of 2024.
Why Are Opposition Leaders Rejecting the Ban?
Kalonzo condemned the move, calling it a blatant violation of constitutional rights. “We have just received news that CA has ordered the closure of TV stations. We want to remind them that this is unacceptable. As we speak, we are in sync with LSK and have moved to court to stop this nonsense,” he said.
He emphasized that Article 35 of the Constitution guarantees the right to access information, adding that the provisions cited by CA do not justify censoring the press. “The Article CA quote, 33 and 34, are very clear that the freedom of the press is guaranteed. You cannot arbitrarily take away that freedom. We must ask William Ruto, what is he afraid of?”
Kalonzo also warned that cutting off live coverage risks hiding acts of police violence from public scrutiny. “Even if he closes down all TV stations, what about Kenyans with mobile phones?” he posed.
What Is the Government’s Justification?
In its directive, CA claimed that the live broadcasts violate Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution, which limit freedom of expression in cases involving hate speech, war propaganda, and incitement to violence. However, civil society groups and opposition leaders argue that the protests are peaceful and the directive amounts to unconstitutional censorship.
By Risper Akinyi
