Ban on live coverage of protests lifted
Publish date: 30 June 2025
Issue Number: 1132
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Kenya
A Kenyan court has lifted the communication regulator's ban on live coverage of protests, reports TRT Afrika. The High Court in Nairobi said that the petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Kenya Editors Guild raises ‘fundamental constitutional questions touching on potential violation of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution and freedom of the media’. Judge Chacha Mwita said that he was ‘satisfied’ by the petitioners' grounds, and therefore ordered the suspension, ‘with immediate effect’ of the broadcast directive issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya earlier on Wednesday, ahead of protests to mark the first anniversary of the demonstrations against the 2024 Finance Bill when more the 60 people were killed. The judge added that the suspension remains in place ‘until the hearing and determination’ of the petitioners' case. The matter will be heard on 2 July . According to BBC News, at least eight people were killed and 400 injured as thousands took to the streets in a day of protests against President William Ruto's government on Wedneday.
The authorities have not yet given any casualty figures from Wednesday's protests, but the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya and the Police Reforms Working Group said in a joint statement that at least eight protesters were killed, notes BBC News. Of the 400 injured, 83 required ‘specialised treatment’ and eight had suffered gunshot wounds. The injured included three police officers, the statement added. A human rights group – Amnesty Kenya – put the death toll as high as 16. According to KDRTV, on Tuesday, 12 diplomatic missions in Kenya also jointly issued a statement ahead of the anticipated protests, urging the government to respect citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and to express themselves. The embassies warned against the use of goons and masked police officers during the protests. The diplomats from the US, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Norway and Finland called for responsible conduct by both security agencies and protesters.
