Activist Okiya Omtatah on Friday explained why the three major TV stations had not been switched back on despite an earlier court order directing the restoration of their signals.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Omtatah noted that his attempt to serve the Communications Authority with the order was sabotaged as he was denied access to its premises.
"They have denied me access at CA, my people and I were kicked out of the area and they are saying that I have no right to issue the orders at the premises," he conveyed.
Earlier reports indicated that the court order was not served to the Government on Thursday because of a delay in signing it at the Court's registrar's office.
Omtatah had assured that he would present the order to CA, the Attorney General, the ICT and Interior ministries.
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Omtatah had successfully filed a petition asking the court to declare the media shutdown unconstitutional and the relevant authorities compelled to restore the transmission of the affected stations.
He faulted the Government bodies for abruptly shutting the TV stations without providing any warning.
During the hearing of the petition, High Court Justice Chacha Mwita suspended the switch off for 14 days pending determination of the case and ordered the government to restore NTV, Citizen TV and KTN News signals back on.
“Prayers b and c in the motion are hereby granted. Pending the hearing and determination of this application inter-partes a conservatory order does issue directing the Respondents to forthwith, with immediate an effect, restore all television transmissions by Citizen, NTV, and KTN in the pendency of this Application/Petition,” noted Justice Mwita.
Royal Media Services Chairman SK Macharia also sued the government following the media shutdown that has put their signals off-air for the third day now.
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Mr Macharia is seeking to have the government pay compensation and get a court order barring interference with the firm's broadcast sites.
