NTV Signal Reportedly Switched Off By Communications Authority, KTN Fights Back

Nation Media Group-owned TV station NTV has alleged that its signal has been switched off by the Communications Authority of Kenya.

The NTV statement came minutes after CA ordered all TV and Radio Stations to Stop Live Coverage of the ongoing Gen Z protests across the country.

On the other hand, Standard Media Group has issued a statement stating that they have not received the letter from the Communications Authority of Kenya ordering TV and Radio stations to stop covering ongoing protests.

The Standard Group's Response to CA's Media Blackout Threat

“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.

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.

Further information from elsewhere indicates that the Communication Authority has ordered signal carriers to deplatform any media house doing 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.

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.

Communications Authority of Kenya Order

The Communications Authority of Kenya has ordered all television and radio stations to stop Live coverage of the ongoing June 25 anniversary protests.

In a directive dated June 25, CA Director General David Mugonyi cited violations of Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution, along with Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, as grounds for the ban.

“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,” the statement read.

The Authority warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract regulatory action in accordance with the law.

“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,” it added.

The ban comes amid widespread protests led by Gen Z demonstrators marking the anniversary of the June 25, 2024, anti-Finance Bill protests, which saw dozens killed and scores injured.

Thousands of protesters have flooded the streets in Nairobi and several other towns across Kenya, calling for police accountability, justice for victims of last year’s protests, and broader governance reforms.

The directive is likely to spark criticism from press freedom advocates and opposition leaders who view it as a clampdown on media independence and public access to real-time information during a national crisis.

This is the first time that CA has openly ordered a stop to live coverage of protests across the country.

Last year, Kenyans enjoyed wall-to-wall coverage of the anti-government protests without government sponsorship.