Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa have sharply criticized a directive from the Communications Authority (CA) ordering all media houses to stop live broadcasts of the June 25 protests. The demonstrations, marking the anniversary of last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests, have gripped the country with renewed civil unrest.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Kalonzo termed the move unconstitutional and warned that it posed a threat to press freedom in Kenya.
“We’ve just been informed that CA wants TV stations to shut down live coverage. That’s nonsense, and we’ve already gone to court with the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to challenge it,” he said.
The CA claimed the ban is grounded in the Constitution, citing Articles 33 and 34, which limit expression that promotes war, incites violence, or spreads hate speech. But Kalonzo was quick to counter that argument, pointing to Article 35, which guarantees Kenyans the right to access information.
“What is Ruto afraid of?” Kalonzo asked, accusing the government of attempting to silence the public and hide potential human rights violations. He added, “Even if he switches off all TV stations, Kenyans still have phones. You can’t stop the truth.”
Eugene Wamalwa echoed the sentiment, suggesting the government might be preparing to use military force against civilians — a repeat of tactics used in previous crackdowns. “There’s a reason they want this blackout. People are rejecting injustice. I suspect he plans to deploy the army,” he said, alleging that soldiers were already stationed at Nyayo Stadium.
The June 25 protests have seen widespread demonstrations and clashes between civilians and security forces in multiple counties, with many Kenyans expressing deep frustration at President Ruto's administration. Critics argue that the media blackout is not just about controlling information, but about concealing abuse of power.
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