Switch on Signals of TV Stations, Lawyer tells Authority.

 Former Law Society of East Africa President James Aggrey Mwamu address the press in Kisumu where he has told the Communication Authority of Kenya to immediately switch on the signal of three media houses it shut down yesterday-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo.

January 31, 2018.

Switch on Signals of TV Stations, Lawyer tells Authority.

The Communication Authority of Kenya has been told to immediately switch on signals of three Media Houses which it shut down yesterday for allegedly trying to give live coverage to an event associated with Nasa at Uhuru Park in Nairobi where its Leader Raila Odinga was sworn-in as the People's President.

Former East Africa Law Society President James Mwamu says Communication Authority of Kenya acted upon without any law backing such switch off of the signals of the three media houses, adding that it was done illegally.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, Mwamu says the Government has violated the rights of Kenyan Citizens by denying them right to access the information in accordance to article 35 of the constitution.

He says if the Government felt that what the media was about to report flouted the law then it should have communicated to the Media Council of Kenya in writing while citing the acts that are against the law and the breaches attendant thereto but that was not done.

“This is an abuse of office and breach of the constitutional rights of the media owners, media fraternity and Kenyans in general whose rights to access information has been breached,” Mwamu says.

He urges the Media owners to move to court and seek for compensation from the Government following the losses incurred as a result the switch off.

He says the Media Houses that were shut down namely KTN,Citizen TV and NTV has suffered losses in terms of business as a result of switch office hence the need to move to court so as to seek compensation.

Mwamu who is also contesting for the position of the Law Society of Kenya President in the forthcoming polls to be held next month says Kenyans should be on the know of what is happening through the media and the Government should not just shut down the media houses by switching off their signals.

Mwamu has also urged the Council of the Law Society of Kenya to use it mandate under section 4 of the Law Society Act to go to court and protect Public interest.

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