KENYA: High Court suspends shutdown of 3 independent TV stations

The suspension of three independent TV stations in Kenya namely; Citizen, NTV and KTN TV for attempting to broadcast the mock inauguration of opposition leader Raila Odinga has been suspended by a High Court.

According to NTV, a 14-day suspension of the government’s shutdown has been ordered by the High Court, while a legal challenge can be heard.

“Government expected to restore NTV, Citizen TV & KTN News signals after High Court suspends switch off for 14 days pending case being heard,” the station wrote on Twitter.

The shutdown came amid heightened tension in Kenya this week after supporters of Odinga staged a mock inauguration declaring the opposition as president- a move which the government described as a “well-choreographed attempt to subvert or overthrow” it.

Read also: Kenya extends TV ban, says Odinga’s mock inauguration ‘plot to overthrow govt’

The government of Kenya had already declared the opposition ‘National Resistance Movement’ a criminal group after it staged the inauguration ceremony swearing in its leader Odinga as president.

The opposition was declared as such following a statement issued by the interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka which was sent to several media houses.

The ministry stated that the move was a loosely organised coalition of opposition lawmakers and it had been declared illegal.

 

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