Kenyans on various social media platforms have expressed their anger towards the government after three media houses were reportedly shut down by the Communications Authority.
Many tweeps stated that the move to shutdown NTV, Citizen TV and Radio, and KTN was a draconian move and termed it as obnoxious.
Kenyans on Twitter noted that shutting the media down was detrimental and opened room for spreading of propaganda on other streams such as social media.
Freedom of conscience, of education, of speech, of assembly are among the very fundamentals of democracy and all of them would be nullified should freedom of the press ever be successfully challenged.
"Citizen TV and Radio" #NASAOathDay— Chena (@JoelChepkech) January 30, 2018
Citizen TV and Radio switched off this is violating media rights. Media acts as the Eye to common mwananchi. #NASASwearingIn
— Reuben Reuben (@rud_rube) January 30, 2018
Shame on you buffoons! It's most shameful and vile that the govt decided to take the retrogressive route by switching off Citizen TV and Radio!
— SAUTET (@AlexSautet) January 30, 2018
Some expressed disappointment at the government but reminded them that in this time and age, viewers have the option of the internet as an alternative means of following news.
Now that they have shut down the two major media houses Ntv and Citizen TV and Radio.
They'll now shut down the internet because Kenyans are smart they are now streaming live coverage.— Diana Kerubo (@miss_deekerubo) January 30, 2018
And now we are back to the dark days. How can Citizen TV and Radio be shut? But the twitter streets are on fire. The media can never be silenced.
— G E N E R A L (@General_Gocho) January 30, 2018
Others affirmed their commitment to attending the swearing-in ceremony of Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka faulting the government for gagging the freedom of the media.
KOT compared the gagging of the media in the new age to the dark days before media freedom was constituted in the Constitution.
In this age and time, it is very ridiculous, insane, wanting or (whichever adjective fitting the description) that media freedom is still in someone's control. Citizen Tv and Radio plus @ntvkenya were the first victims now, @KTNKenya has been enjoined.
— Javve Oningo (@Xjavve) January 30, 2018
What has Citizen TV and Radio done to warrant a shut down? Jubilee should know that our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.
— Carrington Mwendwa (@CarringtonMwen1) January 30, 2018
— Christopher Mwandida (@chris_mwandida) January 30, 2018
In the Kenyan style, some social media users brought humor noting that the government was encouraging people to go watch the event live at Uhuru Park.
Other users advised the media houses that have been shut down to learn a lesson and stop "being used to drive politicians agenda".
Kenyans on Twitter also took the opportunity to chime at media houses who were not switched off asking them to evaluate how important they are in the eyes of the citizens.
How is switching off Citizen TV and Radio by the govt following the law! Now the Media houses you know, next time these govt officials need you to air their greedy agendas just give them blackout & concentrate on what Kenyans want to see
— sammyImbega (@sammyimbega) January 30, 2018
It's official, if you're a broadcast station and your free to air signals are still up, then it means that nobody takes you seriously. It's time to reconsider your purpose coz the has separated the wheat from the chaff. Citizen TV and radio
— JB Ohaga (@JBOhaga) January 30, 2018
