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The High Court in Nairobi has suspended the directive by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) that prohibited live radio and TV coverage of the ongoing protests.
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Justice Chacha Mwita issued the conservatory order on June 25, following a petition by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) challenging the CA’s decision.
The CA had instructed all broadcasters to stop live transmissions of the June 25 demonstrations and any future protests, citing public order and security concerns.
The directive sparked outrage from media houses and civil society groups, who argued it undermined press freedom and denied Kenyans access to vital information.
In his ruling, Justice Mwita stated that the petition raised serious constitutional issues regarding possible violations of media freedom and the public’s rights under the Bill of Rights, justifying immediate court intervention.
“I hereby issue a conservatory order suspending the directive, Ref No. CA/CE/BC/TV90A, or any similar directive by the CA instructing media stations to stop live coverage of the June 25 protests or any other demonstrations, until the case is heard and determined,” ruled Justice Mwita.
The court also ordered that any broadcast signals shut down under the CA directive be restored immediately, pending further court proceedings.
All parties were instructed to submit their responses within three days, with the next directions set for July 2, 2025.
Given the urgency and national interest, the court permitted the order to be served through email, newspapers, or live TV broadcasts.
The ruling comes amid mounting tension over media restrictions and public protests, temporarily allowing live coverage to resume while the court reviews the legality of the CA’s directive.
