Journalists Linus Kaikai, Larry Madowo and Ken Mijungu of NTV moved to court on Thursday to bar their imminent arrest and prosecution by the government.
The journalists, through their lawyers, asked the court to award them anticipatory bail pending the hearing and determination of their petition.
The three journalists revealed that they spent Wednesday night in the NTV newsroom in fear of arrest after it emerged that plainclothes policemen had camped outside Nation Center.
Their lawyers filed petitions in court on Thursday seeking to ensure the journalists' freedom.
[caption caption="NTV senior anchor and reporter Ken Mijungu"]
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The government is alleged to be after the journalists after NTV Kenya covered the swearing-in ceremony of opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i had accused media organisations of facilitating the “illegal act”, which he alleged had put the lives of thousands of Kenyans at risk.
CS Matiang’i had earlier stated that three privately owned TV stations — NTV, KTN and Citizen TV — which were shut down on Tuesday, were to remain off air until investigations were concluded.
However, the High Court on Thursday ordered the government to immediately restore all TV transmission for the three private stations pending the hearing of a suit filed by activist Okiya Omtatah.
Justice Chacha Mwita further issued temporary orders barring the government from interfering with all television transmissions until the case is heard on February 14.
[caption caption="NTV News Anchor Larry Madowo"]
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Omtatah moved to court seeking an order that the switch off of the TV stations was illegal and against the Constitution.
