Former Chief Justice David Maraga has condemned the directive from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) ordering media houses to halt live coverage of the June 25 protests, describing it as an illegal and retrogressive attack on the Constitution and press freedom.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Maraga accused the government of attempting to suppress fundamental freedoms and disregarding the rule of law that initially drove Kenyans to protest a year ago.
“The directive from the Communication Authority of Kenya for media houses to stop live coverage of the 25th June protests is illegal, unconstitutional, and retrogressive. This unilateral action is an attempt to suppress fundamental freedoms in Kenya and forms part of the impunity and disregard for the rule of law that brought thousands of Kenyans onto the streets a year ago and again today,” Maraga stated.
Legal precedent
The former CJ warned that such draconian measures have no place in a modern democracy, citing the court ruling in the case of Kenya Editors Guild & Others v. Communications Authority of Kenya & Others (2023), which barred the CA from interfering with live media broadcasts.
He emphasised that the court had found such threats unconstitutional and in direct contravention of Articles 34 and 35 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010).
“The Court also held that such threats were unconstitutional and posed a serious danger to press freedom contrary to articles 34 and 35 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” Maraga explained.
“History demonstrates that when the media is barred from broadcasting, it is that veil of darkness that paves the way for gross human rights violations,” he added.
Despite the broadcast restrictions, the 2027 presidential hopeful lauded Kenyans for using digital platforms to document events across the country and encouraged them to continue sharing information for posterity.
“We commend Kenyans for exercising their digital rights through citizen reporting and encourage them to continue to document events taking place around the country for posterity,” Maraga concluded.
Media blackout
The statement comes as the High Court has issued an immediate order suspending the directive by the Communication Authority of Kenya.
In a statement posted on her X account on June 25, 2025, Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo announced this development, calling on CA to reinstate all broadcast signals.
“The Law Society of Kenya has secured conservatory orders suspending the punitive, arbitrary and illegal directive by the Communication Authority of Kenya. The Authority must forthwith reinstate all signals it has shut down on account of its unconstitutional directive. Contempt of this order will be met with full prosecution of the leadership of CA,” Faith Odhiambo stated.
