05 Feb 2018 | 03:46 PM UTC
Kenya: Two television stations resume operations February 5 /update 6
Government allows two television stations to resume broadcasting February 5; police fire tear gas at protesters in Nairobi
Event
At approximately 17:30 (local time) on Monday, February 5, two television stations - KTN and NTV - were allowed to resume broadcasting after being blocked by the government for showing the swearing-in ceremony of opposition leader Raila Odinga as the “"People's President" on January 30. However, although KTN and NTV resumed operations, Citizen TV remains blocked as of Monday evening.
Earlier in the day, security forces had used tear gas to disperse over a hundred activists protesting in Nairobi over the shutdown of the television stations. The demonstrators marched from Freedom Corner in Uhuru Park down Kenyatta Avenue. Further protests are possible in the coming days, particularly in Nairobi.
Context
On February 5, Okiya Omtatah, an activist, filed a lawsuit against the interior minister, the information minister, and the director of Kenya’s communications authority for failing to follow a High Court order to end the broadcasting blackout imposed on the stations. The High Court ruled on February 1 that KTN, NTV, and Citizen TV should be allowed to broadcast while the court hears the pending case on the legality of the government’s ban on their operations.
Kenya experienced several months of political crisis surrounding the 2017 presidential elections. Incumbent President Kenyatta was initially declared the victor of the August 8 election, garnering 54 percent of the vote. However, in early September, the Supreme Court officially invalidated the vote due to "irregularities." A re-run election was held in October, but was boycotted by Odinga, who claimed the vote would not be fair. President Kenyatta won re-election with 98 percent of the vote, but with only 39 percent voter turnout. These months of political instability in Kenya were accompanied by violent protests, by both government and opposition supporters.
Advice
Individuals in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi, are advised to avoid all public gatherings (particularly political events) due to the risk of violence and to monitor the situation.
