NAIROBI, Kenya — The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has issued a stern directive to all television and radio stations, prohibiting live coverage of the ongoing June 25 Gen Z protest anniversary. The regulatory body has warned of significant punitive action for any broadcasters failing to comply.
In a letter dated June 25 and addressed to all media houses, CA Director General David Mugonyi asserted that the ban was necessitated by alleged violations of fundamental constitutional provisions.
Mugonyi specifically cited Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution, alongside Section 461 of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, as the legal basis for the unprecedented crackdown.
“The live coverage of the June 25th, 2025 demonstrations are contrary to the Constitution… Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action,” Mugonyi warned unequivocally.
This directive emerges as thousands of Kenyans, predominantly led by the nation’s youth, have taken to the streets to mark one year since the tumultuous anti-Finance Bill protests of 2024.
The Authority did not elaborate on the specific nature of potential penalties, but did emphasize its expectation of full compliance.
“This is to direct all television and radio stations to stop any live coverage of the demonstrations forthwith. Failure to abide by this directive will result in regulatory action,” the memo read in part.
Those demonstrations famously saw a breach of Parliament and tragically resulted in dozens of fatalities.
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Today’s protesters in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, and other urban centers are fervently demanding justice and accountability for those who lost their lives.
The CA’s controversial order is widely expected to draw sharp criticism from media freedom advocates, who will likely interpret the move as a blatant attempt to muzzle the press and curtail public access to real-time information.
Furthermore, the directive itself threatens to exacerbate an already tense situation, particularly as police have been observed deploying tear gas in parts of Nairobi, signaling that some initially peaceful protests have begun to turn confrontational.
