Kenya enters 2008 caught in a whirlwind of turmoil. Over 300 people have died and more than 100,000 have fled from their homes as a result of the mass riots following allegations of vote-rigging in the re-election of Mwai Kibaki on December 27. This weekend, on December 30, the government shut down all live radio and television broadcasts. The ban is still effective as of today.

Kenya’s Minister for Internal Security John Michuki ordered “the immediate suspension of all live broadcast until further notice,” reports human rights group ARTICLE 19. Wachira Waruru, Chairman of the Media Council of Kenya, an independent regulatory body, said the ban was draconian, impractical and difficult to implement, according to a press release made available to IJNet.

“ARTICLE 19 supports the position of the Kenyan media that the ban is not legitimate,” said ARTICLE 19 Executive Director Dr. Agnes Callamard. “Indeed, this is a blatant attempt to curtail media freedom in Kenya.” The organization, which focuses on freedom of expression, calls upon the government to revoke the ban immediately.

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