Kenya: High Court rules to end television suspension /update 3

Event

On Thursday, February 1, Kenya’s High Court ruled against the government’s decision to suspend broadcasting by three private television stations for two weeks. The government ordered KTN, NTV, and Citizen TV to temporarily shut down on Tuesday, January 30, pending an investigation into the broadcast of National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga’s illegal swearing-in ceremony at Uhuru Park in Nairobi. Under the High Court’s ruling, the three stations will be allowed to broadcast while the court hears the pending case on the legality of the government’s ban. The court is expected to reach a decision on February 14. As of February 1, it is unclear if the government will allow the television stations to resume operations. Associated protests are possible in the coming weeks, particularly in Nairobi and other urban areas, if the government continues to prevent the stations from being able to broadcast.

Context

Tensions are high in the country after Odinga was "sworn in" as the "People's President" on January 30. The following day, Opposition MP TJ Kajwang was arrested in Nairobi for swearing in Odinga at the ceremony. In response to the arrest, NASA supporters rioted in the streets of Kisumu (Kisumu county), lighting fires and blocking traffic in the city's Kondele area.

Kenya experienced several months of political crisis surrounding the 2017 presidential elections. Incumbent President Kenyatta was initially declared the victor of the August 8 election, garnering 54 percent of the vote.  However, in early September, the Supreme Court officially invalidated the vote due to "irregularities." A re-run election was held in October, but was boycotted by Odinga, who claimed the vote would not be fair. President Kenyatta won re-election with 98 percent of the vote, but with only 39 percent voter turnout. These months of political instability in Kenya were accompanied by violent protests, by both government and opposition supporters.

Advice

Individuals in Kenya, particularly in Nairobi and Kisumu, are advised to avoid all public gatherings (particularly political events) due to the risk of violence and to monitor the situation.