The move by Communications Authority (CA) Director General, Ezra Chiloba on Wednesday, March 22 to censor media coverage of the Azimio protests became the subject of a heated debate among Kenyans.
On Thursday, March 24, Katiba Institute- a rights lobby group, wrote to Chiloba mounting pressure on him to revoke his letter directed to six television stations in Kenya over their alleged contravention of the programme's guidelines.
In the letter seen by Kenyans.co.ke, KI- which is an established public interest litigator- termed the order unconstitutional and an attempt to revert the nation to the past where "state-sponsored censorship" of the media was rife.
"We remind you of the many High Court decisions forbidding limiting media freedom on vague grounds like the ones in your letter. Hence, we demand that within the next 24 hours, you Revoke the unconstitutional communication," the letter read in part.
Further, KI asked the CA Director to avail the minutes and recordings of the meeting where the decision to warn the six media houses was made.
Chiloba is also under pressure to provide copies of the letter sent on Wednesday, March 23, for reference.
According to the civil society organisation, censoring media coverage of the mass action protests would expose the participants to the risk of unfair treatment by police officers deployed to manage the situation.
The letter by CA also received widespread condemnation from various quarters including members of the fourth estate who criticised the move as an obstacle to press freedom.
"Communication Authority of Kenya being a government entity now wants the media houses not to air facts but hide the truth from the world,' a Twitter user posted.
The development came amid plans by the Azimio leader Raila Odinga to lead anti-government protests twice a week. Despite the condemnation from leaders allied to the government, the coalition's leadership was steadfast in continuing with the protests.
Azimio also warned that it will henceforth not "recognise police officers dressed in civilian clothes" during its upcoming protests.
