Home | About us | Campaigns | MisaNet | Media Releases | Events | Mailing List | Awards | Mail Box | Jobs | Contact us

Programmes
Freedom of Expression
Broadcasting
Media Monitoring
Gender & Media Support
Legal Support
   
Chapters
Angola
Botswana
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
   
Research & Publications
So This is Democracy
Free Press
Undue Restriction
Gender Media Study
Licenscing in SADC
MISA Constitution
Annual Report
Media Directory



Kenyan media in court over ban on live coverage

The controversial Kenyan government suspension of live media coverage has been challenged in court. The Media Institute moved to court after the deadline to the government by the Editor's Guild to lift the suspension elapsed. The institute and KTN's Editorial Head, Ms Farida Karoney, told the High Court the government's order was an illegal censorship and should be quashed.

Former Internal Security minister, now at the Roads ministry, Mr John Michuki, issued a notice on suspension of live broadcast to all media houses through the Information PS, Dr Bitange Ndemo, on December 30, 2007. The notice stated: "Pursuant to Section 88 of the Kenya Communications Act, 1998, I am directed by the Internal Security minister, Hon John Michuki, that in the interest of public safety and tranquility, that I order immediate suspension of all live broadcast until further notice."

Karoney and the institute's executive officer, Mr David Makali, who are members of the Editor's Guild, are seeking orders quashing the minister's directive. They also want the order lifted until the case is heard and determined. A sworn affidavit by Makali, says: "There is no power in the section of law relied on to make the order that all media houses and journalists in general, stop any broadcast of inciting or alarming material and take responsibility for such broadcast in line with the law."
He says the notification is in contravention of Section 79 of the Constitution. "The right of the applicants to receive information by way of live broadcasts has been denied," he says.
Source: The East African Standard

Back

Downloads
  Workshops
  SPP
  AGM Resolution
  Gender, HIV/AIDS & Poverty
  Zimbabwe Report
   
Other Links
  SADC Newspaper
  SADC Broadcaster
  MISA Partners
   
World News
  AllAfrica.com
  BBC
  CNN
  SADC
  SARDC
  IRIN
  VOA
© 2008 Media Institute of Southern Africa : promoting media diversity . pluralism . self-sufficiency . independence.
All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: The newspapers' contents on the links and all other related materials hosted on our site are products and sole responsibility of respective publishers and do not necessarily represent the views of MISA nor its employees.