Standard Exposes Communications Authority Plot To Shut Down Media Houses

Standard Group Limited has issued a statement confirming the Communication Authority of Kenya (CA)'s intention to deplatform all media houses doing live coverage of the June 25 demonstrations.

In a statement released on Wednesday, June 25, the media house said it was engaging its legal team to assess the legality of the directives issued by the CA. As a result, it will proceed with its coverage while the legal review is underway.

The Mombasa Road-based media house added that some of its media stations had received the CA letter containing the order, except KTN and three radio stations.

"The Standard Group has seen a letter circulating from the Communication Authority of Kenya ordering all television and radio stations to immediately stop all live broadcasting of demonstrations," the statement read in part.

"Whereas KTN and the Group's radio stations -- Radio Maisha, Spice and Berur -- have not received their copies of this order, editors from other media houses have confirmed that indeed this is the position."

Standard Group also revealed that further information from elsewhere indicated that CA had ordered signal carriers to deplatform any media house doing a live broadcast of the demos.

"We are consulting our lawyers to establish the legality of this order, which aims to plunge the country into a news blackout. Meanwhile, we will continue broadcasting in the public interest until the legal position is confirmed," added the statement.

This is not the first time that the CA is threatening to take TV stations off-air. Similar threats were issued at the same time last year, at the height of the anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations that saw protesters breach Parliament.

Other media houses, such as Africa Uncensored, condemned the order, terming it an infringement on the freedoms of the media.

"Moreover, there is precedent that any attempt by the State to arbitrarily restrict media coverage, particularly of public interest events such as protests, is unconstitutional and violates both domestic and international standards of free expression.

"Media coverage of protests is essential for accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights. Live coverage ensures that the public can witness events as they unfold, reducing the risk of the kinds of harms that have been witnessed in the past, fostering a more informed citizenry," read the statement in part.

In issuing the order, the Authority's Director General, Davd Mugonyi, on Wednesday, June 25, revealed that the ongoing coverage was in violation of sections of the Constitution of Kenya.

"The live coverage of the June 25th, 2025, demonstrations are contrary to Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998," CA stated in part.

"This is therefore to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith. Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated in the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998."

This move comes a day after the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) urged journalists and media practitioners to uphold the highest ethical standards ahead of coverage of the June 25 nationwide demonstrations.

In a statement signed by Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo, dated Tuesday, June 24, the media regulator reminded the Fourth Estate of the importance of complying with the Code of Conduct for Media Practice, with special emphasis on accuracy, fairness, and the “do no harm” principle.