The High Court on Wednesday, April 16, temporarily halted revocation of Standard Group's broadcasting licenses by the Communications Authority of Kenya, pending hearing on May 2.
The latest development comes after The Standard Group PLC, which owns KTN, claimed that the government, through the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), was planning to revoke its broadcasting license.
Through an announcement made during the 9 pm bulletin, the media company revealed it had received a notice from the CA announcing the revocation of its license for allegedly failing to pay a Ksh43 million fee.
The media house, which filed a petition at the High Court, is set for a reprieve following the court's latest directive.
The company had disclosed that together with the government, it had agreed on a monthly repayment structure of Ksh2.5 million towards the matter. However, the media outlet increased the monthly payout plan to Ksh4 million, which, according to it, was honoured.
Despite the initial agreement, the company stated that it had received a letter dated April 9 and signed by CA Director General David Mugonyi, indicating plans to revoke its operating licence.
However, according to Standard Group's Chief Executive Editor, Chacha Mwita, the government was allegedly using the debt issue to intimidate the company for reportedly exposing the ills within President William Ruto's administration.
He, however, noted that the company had already applied to the court to request an injunction against the publication of the notice to revoke the media house's broadcasting licences.
Mwita, while lamenting the shutdown threats, accused the government of failing to honour its debt of over Ksh1.2 billion owed to the company, which was accrued from advertisements.
"What I always say is that what we publish and carry is the reality of the day, so if the reality changes, then the headlines will change. We are not going to report things that are not the reality just to make some people happy," Mwita said.
The coverage by the Gideon Moi-owned station has attracted significant backlash from leaders allied to Ruto with many levelling their criticism of its journalistic practices. Recently, Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot slammed the media house over its coverage of the President.
While speaking at the burial of former Member of Parliament John Koech, the Senate Majority Leader criticised the negative coverage of Ruto, citing it was “ridicule” and a lack of respect towards the Office of the President.
Cheruiyot asserted that the country had been on a good trajectory since Ruto took power and that the coverage of the Head of State was uncalled for.
“What we see happening in the newspapers, even me as someone who studied journalism, what I am reading in the media, it is not journalism anymore,” Cheruiyot stated.
