A protester grimace as a member of the Kenyan security forces hits him with a baton in downtown Nairobi on June 25, 2025 during a planned day of protest marking the first anniversary of the storming of the parliament. Thousands of protesters took to Kenya's streets on Wednesday to mark a year since people stormed parliament at the peak of anti-government demonstrations, despite fears that they would be met by state-backed gangs and police violence. At least 60 people were killed last year by security forces in weeks of protests over tax rises and the dire economic situation for young Kenyans. Activists and families of victims have called for peaceful demonstrations to mark a year since the deadliest day of the unrest when parliament was invaded. (Photo by Luis TATO / AFP)
The Kenyan government has ordered an immediate halt to live broadcasts of ongoing protests commemorating the anniversary of last year’s mass anti-government demonstrations.
In a directive issued on Wednesday, the Communications Authority of Kenya stated that live coverage of the protests violates constitutional provisions and must cease immediately.
“All television and radio stations are hereby directed to stop live coverage of the demonstrations with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The protests mark one year since nationwide demonstrations over economic hardships, during which security forces reportedly killed at least 60 people.
While the anniversary protests began peacefully, they escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and police, who deployed tear gas and secured key government buildings with barbed wire.
The government’s move sparked widespread criticism online. Despite the directive, several media outlets continued live reporting.
The Standard Group, which owns TV, radio, and print platforms, denounced the order as a bid to enforce a “news blackout,” affirming that it would continue its live broadcasts. The group also claimed that signal carriers had been instructed to cut off transmission for any outlet airing the protests live.
It noted that similar threats were made during the height of the 2024 demonstrations.
Amnesty International also condemned the move, stating that suppressing press freedom is not a viable solution.
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