Kenya’s Communications Authority (CA) has cautioned media houses against broadcasting content that violates the country’s communications laws amidst ongoing protests calling for the resignation of President William Ruto.
The regulator warned that disseminating unlawful content would result in enforcement action, as required by the Constitution and various communications acts.
As a result of this caution, leading TV stations such as Citizen and K24 are providing limited coverage of Thursday’s protests, unlike previous live-streamed demonstrations. The protests, which have been occurring on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the past four weeks, continue to demand Ruto’s resignation despite budget cuts, promised austerity measures, and other governmental changes.
The recent protests turned violent on Tuesday, resulting in casualties, including a journalist being shot in Nakuru. The National Police Service (NPS) has cited security concerns and potential property destruction as reasons for warning protesters against accessing Nairobi’s central business district, the focal point of the demonstrations. The NPS has also mentioned credible intelligence indicating planned attacks by criminal groups during the protests.
These developments have sparked dissatisfaction among some Kenyans who argue that the police cannot permit or deny demonstrations and have accused the police of using excessive force and engaging in arrests and abductions. Despite these challenges, protesters have gathered at Uhuru Park in Nairobi and plan to march to State House, a protected area under Kenya’s Protected Areas Act.
