Editor's Review

"Take note that failure to adhere to the outlined obligations shall be acting in breach of license conditions."

The Communications Authority of Kenya has censured six TV stations over their coverage of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance demonstrations on Monday. 

Chiloba in a statement accusing the six TV Stations of violating the Programming Code when airing the protests on Monday. 

CA Director General Ezra Chiloba listed Citizen TV, NTV, K24, national broadcaster KBC, TV47 and Ebru TV as the TV stations he said violated the law. 

"The coverage depicted scenes that could cause panic or incitement to the public, threaten peace and cohesion in the country," Chiloba said.

He said the stations have been informed of the areas they breached the law and asked them to review their coverage of the same. 

ODM leader Raila Odinga During Mondays Demos.

"While the Authority promotes the freedom of the press, it is imperative that all broadcasters exercise caution in live broadcast coverage to avoid scenes that would be detrimental to peace and cohesion," Chiloba said.

The CA boss said all media houses have a duty to strictly follow the law without fail as required of them.

"Take note that failure to adhere to the outlined obligations shall be acting in breach of license conditions, which shall attract liability under relevant provisions of the law including revocation of broadcast license or/and broadcast frequencies," Chiloba said.

According to the CA boss, the Programming Code among other things prohibits broadcasters from certain incidences live.

This, he said, includes airing morbid, violent, sensational or alarming details that are not essential to factual reporting.

"Presentation of news and commentaries must not be done in a way that would create unnecessary panic or alarm," Section 5.8.4 of the Programming Code states.

Raila's Monday's mass actions were marred by ugly scenes where protesters were captured live engaging police officers in a running battle.

Clause 19 I (c) and (d) of the Kenya Information and Communication (Broadcast) Act further requires broadcasters to ensure that they do not air any material that "glorifies violence or depicts violence in an offensive manner, or is likely to incite, perpetuate hatred, vilify any person or section of the community."