Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has publicly supported the Communications Authority of Kenya’s (CA) controversial move to halt live television and radio broadcasts of the June 25, 2025, anti-government protests, arguing that the media coverage risked inciting unrest and breached constitutional limits on press freedom.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kaluma said the CA’s directive was “in the interest of public safety and order.”
“What we saw yesterday was not a demonstration under Article 37, but an insurrection,” Kaluma wrote, referring to the widespread protests marking the anniversary of the deadly 2024 Occupy Parliament demonstrations.
Kaluma further claimed that media houses were partly responsible for escalating tensions, arguing that continuous live coverage amplified the chaos and violence witnessed in parts of Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
On the morning of June 25, the CA issued a directive ordering all media outlets to cease live coverage of the protests, citing unspecified legal violations. The move sparked public outrage and drew condemnation from civil society groups and media watchdogs.
That same evening, the High Court in Nairobi suspended the directive following a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). The ruling was issued by Justice Chacha Mwita, who said the matter warranted a full hearing.
“Media freedom is a cornerstone of our Constitution and cannot be restricted without lawful justification,” the LSK argued in their petition.
The court’s decision allows media houses to continue broadcasting live protest coverage until the case is fully heard and determined.
