Police on Monday lobbed teargas canisters outside Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i's Harambee House offices in Nairobi to disperse a group of protestors who had taken to the streets to condemn the media shutdown and the Government crackdown on Opposition figures.
The demonstrators demanded that the State complies with a court order that directed it to switch back on three private TV stations that were taken off air on January 30 for covering Raila Odinga's swearing-in as the 'People's President'.
Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Executive Director, George Kegoro, explained that they were concerned about what they maintained was blatant disregard of the law.
"We are here as a sign of solidarity...This is unprecedented, the shutting down of 3 TV stations.
"It's unprecedented...This is something that shocked us, and it is something we are making a statement against," Kegoro told the media.
UPDATE: Police lob teargas to disperse protesters demonstrating outside the office of interior CS @FredMatiangi. The protesters are taking part in peaceful demonstrations against #MediaShutDownKE, arrest of opposition leaders and corruption. #NotInMyCountryKE pic.twitter.com/nPdr55R5kf
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) February 5, 2018
The protests began at Freedom Corner, Uhuru Park early in the morning.
The activists made their way to Nation Centre, the building that houses NTV, one of the switched-off stations.
The large group of placard-carrying demonstrators also went to Standard Group's Nairobi CBD building.
It has been seven days since the three stations; NTV, Citizen and KTN News went off air.
American Ambassador Bob Godec on Monday urged the Government to allow the stations to resume broadcasting.
[caption caption="Activists outside Nation Centre on February 5"]
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[caption caption="Some of the demonstrators at the event"]
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