Moi condemns media shutdown

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi on Friday February 2, called on the government to restore the signals of four major broadcasting television stations that were switched off on Tuesday, January 30 over coverage of the controversial ‘swearing-in’ of opposition leader Raila Odinga as the ‘People’s President’.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Senator who doubles up as the chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT also urged government to respect the rule of law it expects its citizens to obey, following a court order issued by High Court Judge Chacha Mwita ordering the government to restore the signals of the TV stations.

“Even after the media houses obtained a court order for the re-opening of the stations, the government has ignored and the country continues to find itself in information blackout with no one knowing for how long,” read the statement in part.

According to Moi, the stations should be back on air even as the government continues with its investigations into Raila’s ‘swearing-in’.

“What is happening now is contrary to the law of natural justice where one remains innocent until proven guilty,” said Moi

While terming the step taken by the government to ignore the court order as unfortunate’ Moi was keen to note that: “Section 34 (1) is clear that freedom and independence of electronic, print and all other types of media is guaranteed and that the state shall not exercise control over or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting, the production or circulation of any publication or dissemination of information by any medium,”

The Baringo Senator is now urging the government to obey the constitution which they swore to abide by and protect.

He further urged the state to guarantee the safety of journalists amid accusations of intimidation and harassment while working.

“The same constitution also gives media practitioners with right to practice its trade without the government penalizing for any opinion or view or the content of any broadcast, publication or dissemination.” said Moi.