SK Macharia Sues Government Over Media Shutdown

Royal Media Services Chairman SK Macharia on Thursday sued the government following the media shutdown that has put their signals off-air for two days now.

Mr Macharia is seeking to have the government pay compensation and get a court order barring interference with the firm's broadcast sites.

Three TV stations, Citizen TV and Radio, NTV and KTN News, were shut down following their 'defiance' to follow an alleged order from President Uhuru Kenyatta restricting the live coverage of the controversial swearing-in ceremony of Raila Odinga as the People's President.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday stated that the three TV stations that were switched off would remain so until the completion of investigations.

[caption caption="Interior Security CS Fred Matiang'i"][/caption]

Matiang'i further noted that coverage by the media would have led to incitement and a 'massacre of catastrophic proportions' was going to happen.

Speaking from Harambee House, the CS stated that the government had a duty to protect its citizens thus the media houses would remain shut down.

"The government's responsibility is to protect the lives of people. We are committed to the rule of law," asserted Matiang'i.

However, the High Court has already ordered the government to restore the three media stations signals back on.

[caption caption="SK Macharia"][/caption]

This was after veteran activist Okiya Omtatah submitted a petition to Milimani Law Courts on Thursday morning seeking to have the government's directive overturned.

The court suspended the switch off for 14 days pending determination of the case.

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