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Kenya restores signals for all TV stations, ending media crackdown

Source: Xinhua   2018-02-09 02:40:48

NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- All four television stations switched off air last week following government crackdown after the swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga as "people's president" on Jan. 30 are back on air.

Citizen TV and Inooro TV were the last stations to be switched back on air Thursday afternoon, four days after NTV and KTN News were restored.

The government accused the stations of reneging on an agreement not to air the opposition fete for security purposes.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang's said the stations, which control about 60 percent of viewership, were working with the opposition to overthrow President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"The stations shall remain shut as we carry out investigations surrounding circumstances on the swearing in of Odinga," said Matiang'i.

According to the minister, there were intelligence reports of planned massacre of those attending the oath-taking event at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, and by airing the event, the media houses were seemingly part of the plan.

An activist moved to court and successfully challenged the closure of the stations, but the government ignored the order, noting that it was still carrying out investigations.

The delayed move to restore the signal of Citizen TV and Inooro TV was attributed to the decision by the parent company, Royal Media Services, to sue the government seeking compensation.

Editor: Mu Xuequan
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Kenya restores signals for all TV stations, ending media crackdown

Source: Xinhua 2018-02-09 02:40:48

NAIROBI, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- All four television stations switched off air last week following government crackdown after the swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga as "people's president" on Jan. 30 are back on air.

Citizen TV and Inooro TV were the last stations to be switched back on air Thursday afternoon, four days after NTV and KTN News were restored.

The government accused the stations of reneging on an agreement not to air the opposition fete for security purposes.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang's said the stations, which control about 60 percent of viewership, were working with the opposition to overthrow President Uhuru Kenyatta.

"The stations shall remain shut as we carry out investigations surrounding circumstances on the swearing in of Odinga," said Matiang'i.

According to the minister, there were intelligence reports of planned massacre of those attending the oath-taking event at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, and by airing the event, the media houses were seemingly part of the plan.

An activist moved to court and successfully challenged the closure of the stations, but the government ignored the order, noting that it was still carrying out investigations.

The delayed move to restore the signal of Citizen TV and Inooro TV was attributed to the decision by the parent company, Royal Media Services, to sue the government seeking compensation.

[Editor: huaxia]
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