A Kenyan court has ordered the Communications Authority to restore signal transmission of four television stations it switched off on Tuesday over the opposition’s mock inauguration.
A judge at the High Court in Nairobi issued temporary orders barring the government from interfering with operations of Nation Media Group’s NTV, Royal Media’s Citizen and Inooro, and Standard Group’s KTN News pending the hearing of a suit filed by activist Okiya Omtatah.
Mr Omtatah had moved to court Thursday morning seeking a declaration that the shutdown is illegal and unconstitutional.
The case will be heard on February 14.
Journalists
Meanwhile, NTV journalists Linus Kaikai, Larry Madowo and Ken Mijungu have moved to court to bar their imminent arrest and prosecution after the station broadcast live coverage of Raila Odinga’s “swearing in”.
The three said they had all been warned by security sources that their arrest was imminent and were forced to spend Wednesday night in their newsroom in fear of arrest, watching plainclothes policemen camped outside.
