Editors’ Guild Condemns Media Ban During Gen Z Protest Anniversary
Nairobi – Kenya’s leading editors have strongly condemned a government directive that ordered broadcasters to halt live coverage of Gen Z protest commemorations. The Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) called the move unconstitutional and a direct threat to press freedom.
The directive, issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), instructed licensed media outlets to stop airing real-time footage of the June 25 demonstrations, which marked one year since police killed over 60 young protesters who had stormed Parliament during last year’s anti-Finance Bill protests.
In a formal statement released Wednesday, KEG said the directive violated Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution. These provisions guarantee freedom of expression and media independence, allowing for restrictions only in cases of hate speech, incitement, or propaganda for war not in the case of verified reporting.
“Live, factual reporting by licensed media is not a threat it’s a civic duty,” KEG President Zubeidah Kananu stated.
KEG also cited a 2023 High Court ruling in Kenya Editors’ Guild & Others v Communications Authority & Others, which barred CA from interfering with live broadcasts. The court reaffirmed that prior restraint on the press by any state agency is unconstitutional.
Kananu said the CA’s directive disregarded that ruling and amounted to a defiance of judicial authority.
“The law is clear. CA has no power to ban live broadcasts. This is a blatant overreach,” she said.
Thousands of Kenyans gathered across the country on Wednesday to remember those who died during the 2024 protests. Nairobi, Kisii, Mombasa, and Eldoret witnessed renewed demonstrations led by youth, many holding banners and calling for justice. The heavy police presence and sporadic confrontations highlighted growing public frustration with state authority and police conduct.
KEG has now demanded the immediate withdrawal of the broadcast ban. It urged Parliament and the Judiciary to launch independent investigations into CA’s conduct.
The Guild also called for the protection of media houses that continue to report on public events and said it would support legal challenges against any form of censorship.
“Silencing live reporting weakens democratic checks and erodes public confidence in state institutions,” the Guild stated.
Media watchdogs have echoed similar concerns. Social media users accused the government of targeting the press to control the protest narrative. Videos and livestreams shared online showed journalists being harassed and blocked from filming in parts of Nairobi.
Despite the restrictions, some media outlets continued to report from the ground, relying on online platforms to share footage. Protesters praised journalists who remained on the scene and documented events as they unfolded.
By evening, KEG urged all reporters to remain alert and continue upholding their responsibility to inform the public without fear.
“During moments of civic unrest, the only crisis greater than the protest itself is the silencing of the voices that tell its story,” KEG said.
The Communications Authority had not issued a formal response to the backlash by press time. The Ministry of Information and the Office of the President also remained silent.
As the anniversary closes with both mourning and defiance, pressure mounts on the state to respect constitutional freedoms and the rule of law. For many, the battle for press freedom is not only about covering a protest it’s about preserving democracy.
