Wednesday, 25th June 2025.
We, the undersigned organisations, issue this urgent statement in response to the ongoing restrictions on internet access, the blocking of Telegram, and the ban on live media coverage imposed by the Kenyan government during the protests on 25 June 2025.
We unequivocally condemn the directive by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to halt all live media (television and radio) coverage of demonstrations, enforced under the threat of regulatory action. Likewise, we condemn the throttling of internet access speeds and restriction of access to Telegram by Kenyan telecommunications companies and Internet Service Providers—including Safaricom PLC, Jamii Telecommunication Ltd, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies. These restrictions, confirmed by OONI among others, have affected access to the internet and made the Telegram application inaccessible to millions of Kenyans
The blocking of Telegram goes against an injunction by the High Court stopping Government agencies and telcos from interfering with internet access until a pending constitution petition has been heard and determined. The petition, filed by seven (7) civil society organisations, also seeks to declare any attempt to shut down the internet by the Kenyan Government unconstitutional.
These measures constitute a grave assault and violation of Kenyans’ constitutional rights, specifically Articles 33 (freedom of expression), 34 (freedom of the media), 35 (access to information), 36 (association), and 37 r(assembly, demonstration, picketing, and petition).They are also a further continuation of restrictive practices that have been witnessed in the past year, with Kenya’s first total internet shutdown in June 2024, and a similar blockage of Telegram in 2023 and 2024.
In its letter to the media houses, the Communications Authority (CA) has cited Articles 33(2) and 34(1) of the Constitution and Section 46I of the Kenya Information and Communications Act as justification for these actions. The subsequent forced off-airing of media houses like Citizen, KTN, and NTV for upholding their journalistic integrity is a chilling act of censorship.
We remind the authorities that the Constitution robustly protects the rights to free expression and media independence. Therefore, the actions by the CA are not only an affront to press freedom, but also directly contravene multiple High Court decisions which explicitly barred the CA from such media interference and declared threats of internet shutdowns unconstitutional. The exclusive mandate for media content regulation lies with the Media Council of Kenya, not the CA.
The consequences of these actions are far-reaching, as the suppression of digital and broadcast media during a public protest undermines transparency, accountability, and public trust. Live coverage and open digital communication are essential for documenting events, facilitating access to information, ensuring the safety of demonstrators, and enabling emergency response. The information blackout creates a chilling effect on digital activism and civic participation, undermines democracy, and jeopardises public safety.
Kenya is bound by its own Constitution and international human rights law to guarantee freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to peaceful assembly. Any attempt to throttle, block, or shut down the internet, or to censor media coverage, is a direct affront to these obligations and threatens the very foundation of our democracy.
We wish to remind the government, including relevant agencies such as the Communications Authority, of the it’s obligations under Articles 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 of the Constitution of Kenya, as well as its commitments under international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. These instruments unequivocally affirm the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, media, assembly, and association. Any restriction of any of these rights must be necessary, proportionate, and strictly adhere to the law.
The failure to uphold these fundamental rights will severely compromise Kenya’s democratic standing and further erode public confidence in its governance.
In that regard, we:
- Call on Safaricom PLC, Jamii Telecommunication Ltd, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and all ISPs to immediately withdraw all restrictions on internet access.
- Call on Safaricom PLC, Jamii Telecommunication Ltd, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and all ISPs to immediately and unconditionally restore access to Telegram and all other digital platforms.
- Call for the immediate reversal of the directive banning live media coverage of the protests.
- Call upon the Communications Authority of Kenya and all relevant state agencies to respect court orders and uphold the Constitution.
- Remind all media houses of their constitutional duty to inform the public and urge them to resist unlawful directives.
- Call on the government to engage in dialogue with civil society and youth leaders to address the legitimate grievances raised by protesters.
- Urge all stakeholders to commit to fostering an open, inclusive, and rights-respecting digital environment in Kenya.
We stand in solidarity with all Kenyans exercising their constitutional rights and will continue to advocate for a free, open, secure, and rights-respecting digital environment.
Signatories:
- Access Now
- Article 19 Eastern Africa
- Association of Freelance Journalists
- Baraza Media LabUp
- Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE)
- Build
- Centre for Artificial Intelligence Ethics and Governance in Africa (CAIEGA)
- Internews Kensafe Space
- Internet Without Borders
- KICTANet
- Kenya Community Media Network (KCOMNET)
- Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC)
- Kenyan Section of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya)
- Mzalendo Trust
- Paradigm Initiative
- Pollicy Data Institute
- Tatua Digital Resilience Centre
- The Red Vest Movement
- Young Women Growing Initiative – Kenya