The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) has called on the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to immediately restore television broadcasts that were shut down on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, during the Gen Z memorial protests.
MCK, in a statement issued on the night of Wednesday, June 25, condemned what it termed the threats to shut down television stations, which, though briefly enacted, were overturned by the High Court as an unwarranted overreach.
According to MCK, Kenya’s broadcast media demonstrated exemplary professionalism during the memorial protests, resolutely adhering to the Code of Conduct for Media Practice 2025 despite significant challenges.
MCK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Omwoyo, in his statement, said that the immediate reinstatement of the signals of the affected media outlets will help ward off unnecessary speculation and misinformation caused by the absence of information.
“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) aligns with other media support organisations in condemning the threats to shut down television stations, which, though briefly enacted, were overturned by the High Court as an unwarranted overreach. Kenya’s broadcast media demonstrated exemplary professionalism today, resolutely adhering to the Code of Conduct for Media Practice 2025 despite significant challenges. Isolated incidents of peaceful protests turning violent should not be attributed to media houses,” Omwoyo stated.
“To ward off unnecessary speculation and misinformation caused by the absence of information, we call for the immediate reinstatement of the signals of media outlets that have been switched off, without further delay.”
Attacks on journalists
The media regulatory body also commended journalists for their steadfast commitment to the highest ethical standards while covering the Gen Z protests.
It went ahead to condemn attacks that were meted out against the journalists, which led to four of them sustaining injuries.
“The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) commends journalists for their steadfast commitment to the highest ethical standards while covering the Gen Z protests on 25 June 2025. The media’s adherence to the MCK’s guidelines, issued on 24 June 2025, underscores their professionalism, fostering transparency and accountability in reporting these pivotal events,” the statement read.
“However, the MCK vehemently condemns the violent attacks on four journalists injured in the line of duty in Nairobi and Nakuru. Such assaults on media practitioners are intolerable, striking at the heart of press freedom and democratic values.”
Govt shuts down media
In a move that has sparked renewed fears over media freedom in Kenya, the government on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, abruptly shut down the K24 TV and Kameme TV broadcast signals, following their live coverage of the Gen Z protest commemorations in Nairobi.
In a strongly worded statement, Mediamax Network Ltd, which owns both stations, accused CA of acting in clear violation of the Constitution and a standing High Court decision that prohibits censorship of live broadcast content.
“We wish to inform our customers that the Communications Authority (CA) switched off our K24 broadcast signal in clear violation of the Constitution and a High Court decision in relation to the coverage of live events,” the company stated.
NTV and KTN were also affected by the CA’s decision.
