We Want TVs Back, Kikuyu MP Tells Regulator

Ichungwa challenged Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and CAK to ensure that the four leading TV stations, Citizen TV, NTV, KTN and QTV are back on air to avoid keeping Kenyans in information darkness.

This comes even as the digital migration stalemate continues to elicit sharp reactions from different quotas over the reluctanceness of the government and the regulator to resolve the stand-off.

On Friday, human rights activists held a demonstration outside the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) offices in Nairobi.

Led by Operation Ondoa Panya National Coordinator John Wamagata, the protesters accused CAK of denying Kenyans their right to information by switching off their four favorite television stations.

DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The protesters also raised concerns over mistreatment of Royal Media Services, Standard Group Limited and Nation Media Group by not being allowed time to set up the digital broadcasting infrastructure.

Carrying TV sets and chicken to the CAK offices, Wamagata and other protesters termed the current information blackout as a threat to democracy as most Kenyans do not own or cannot afford to purchase set top boxes to watch their favorite stations.

They now want President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and end the current digital migration stand off to allow Kenyans access to information.

The Africa Digital Network Limited (ADNL) on Thursday asked the government to allow it more time to set up infrastructure in readiness for the digital broadcasting.

Appearing before the National Assembly committee on Energy and Communication, ADNL, a consortium of Citizen TV, KTN, NTV and QTV, wants the government to allow it up to May 30th, 2015 to put in place the appropriate infrastructure.

The media houses argued that they are not opposed to the digital migration but to the hurry.

Nation Media Group chairman Wilfred Kiboro informed the committee that the digital migration issue is sensitive and that it touches on the rights of Kenyans and thus a need to handle it with sensitivity.

By Maureen Murimi