Milimani High Court has delivered a major blow to the government by suspending a directive from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) that sought to block live coverage of ongoing anti-government protests.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Chacha Mwita issued a conservatory order suspending the CA’s directive referenced as CA/CE/BC/TV90A, which had instructed all television and radio stations to halt live broadcasts of the June 25 demonstrations and any future protests.
The court found the directive potentially unconstitutional and ordered that it be suspended with immediate effect, pending the full hearing and determination of a petition challenging its legality.
“A conservatory order is hereby issued suspending, with immediate effect, the directive… or any other directive issued by the Communications Authority to all television and radio stations directing them to stop live coverage of the demonstrations of 25th June 2025 or any other demonstrations,” the court order reads in part.
Justice Mwita further directed that any broadcasting signals switched off as a result of the directive be restored without delay. To ensure wide public awareness, he also allowed that the order may be served via email, live broadcasts, or newspaper publications.
The decision has been hailed as a win for media freedom and public access to information, amid rising criticism from civil society groups, lawyers, and media watchdogs who accused the state of using the CA to muzzle dissent and infringe on constitutional freedoms.
This ruling sets the stage for a broader legal battle over the limits of state control on the media, especially during periods of political unrest.
