Police and Communications Authority of Kenya forcefully entered NTV, KTN, and Citizen TV’s Limuru transmission stations and switched off the Free-to-Air signal.
In a statement, Nation Media Group strongly condemned the illegal switch-off of the NTV signal by the Communications Authority; it affirms its commitment to fair, balanced, and credible journalism.
“Nation Media Group (NMG) confirms that the broadcast signal for its television station, NTV, has been unconstitutionally switched off by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
This action has been taken without due process, following an advisory circulated on social media by the Authority instructing all television and radio stations to cease live coverage of countrywide anti-government protests,” Nation Media said in a statement.
“Nation Media Group maintains that this move is a clear violation of Article 34(2) of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantees the freedom and independence of the media. Specifically, the Constitution states The State shall not--
(a) exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or the dissemination of information by any medium; or
(b) penalise any person for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast, publication or dissemination,”
KTN said; “KTN taken off-air following Communications Authority directive to halt live coverage of protests; but coverage continues on KTN News YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter platforms,”.
The development came shortly after the CA issued a directive ordering all television and radio stations to stop live coverage of the ongoing Gen Z-led protests marking the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 demonstrations.
In a quick rebuttal, Standard Media Group released a strongly worded statement asserting that it had not received the letter from CA but was aware of the directive.
“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.
Standard Group added that KTN and its affiliated radio stations — Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM — had not received any official communication but confirmed that editors from other media houses had acknowledged the letter’s authenticity.
The CA Directive
The Communications Authority of Kenya, in a letter dated June 25, said the live coverage of the 2025 protests violates specific constitutional provisions and media regulations.
“The live coverage of the June 25, 2025 demonstrations is contrary to Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution of Kenya and Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act,” said CA Director General David Mugonyi in the directive.
The authority warned that any station defying the order would face regulatory consequences.
“All television and radio stations are directed to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith. Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action as stipulated,” the statement added.
The protests — fueled by growing demands for police accountability, justice for victims of last year's demonstrations, and governance reforms — have drawn thousands of mostly young people to the streets in Nairobi and other towns
This is the first time CA has explicitly ordered a nationwide media blackout on protest coverage. During last year's protests, media houses aired the demonstrations live, providing extensive coverage without reported government interference.
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