RMS Chairman SK Macharia sues gov’t seeking shutdown compensation

Royal Media Services and the Africa Digital Networks (ADN) have filed a certificate of urgency case against the government.

In the petition, which will be heard on Friday, February 2, the media house wants the court to restrain the government from entering or being on their premises in Limuru.

Further, they want an order barring the state from placing any padlock on their transmission room in Limuru.

Through lawyer Gibson Kuria Kamau, RMS says the government has greatly damaged its broadcasting business and caused it to breach contracts entered into with third parties for advertising goods.

Similarly, the media house notes that the respondents have put into jeopardy not only the media house investments worth millions of shillings but also jobs of its 1,000 employees.

In the affidavit sworn by Royal Media Services Chairman Dr. SK Macharia, RMS and ADN say the government illegally and forcibly took possession of their TV broadcasting installation and have remained in possession of the same.

RMS also states that it has always observed the political pluralism restored in 1991 and now embodied in the Constitution.

The Communications Authority switched off the signals of Citizen TV and various radio stations under the Royal Media Services at exactly ten minutes after 9 am on Tuesday, January 30 for broadcasting plans for the’swearing in’ of opposition leader Raila Odinga as the ‘People’s President’.

RMS argues that at the time their TV transmitters were switched off, they were informing their viewers that there was very little attendance at Uhuru Park Grounds and that the city was peaceful and any person was at liberty to go about his or her business.