Media blackout a clear sign autocracy is back

For the last one week, the three leading media houses which commands approximately over 70% of the audience in Kenya have been shut the prime reason being airing illegal oath of NASA leader Raila Odinga who took an oath as people's president on 30th January

The government are raising the issues of national security and the legality of the event. The impact that the live event could have had in the larger kenyan populace cannot be established but the government decry that airing it live could have threatened the stability and fan chaos. 

Kenya editors guild had warned that the government had threatened to revoked their licenses if they had dared to air the illegal event. The government made good of their threat of shutting down the media houses and ignoring to comply to the court order compelling the government to restore their transmission. 

The media which Is the mirror and an informer of the larger society when it is cut to size for government own benefits really disadvantage the citizens because the critical information are all censored. The government thus rule with iron fist with no or limited respect to the rule of law and human rights. 

Illegal detention without trial that violates the rights of the suspect will be witnessed as it is the case in the dictatorship all over the world. The government fails to be accountable and reign with impunity. Corruption and money laundering becomes the order of the day and possible assassination of dissent will be witnessed regularly. 

Kenya without proper functional media which is independent will head to the abyss where rule of law and order aren't fundamental principles again. When we look at the functional democracies for example.: in United States of America, the leading media houses ; The new york times and CNN just to name but afew are in odds with its president in wide range of issues leading to the latter nicknaming them, fake news CNN and failing New York Times but he has no jurisdiction to engineer their closure for political reasons 

The kenyan constitution is clear on the freedom of media in article 34. Whether print or electronic their freedom is guaranteed. The government move therefore is unfortunate to gag the press and its independence. 

However, the government may be having the legitimate concerns and its imperative to note, government is responsible for our safety but they have to follow due process in unearthing what exactly bedevilling the media industry. While conducting the probe the TV stations should be on air and if they finally conclude then they should be able to take legal actions which may lead to closure and revoking license if indeed they were complicit to an Ill plot planned