Three of Kenya’s biggest television stations will remain off-air until further notice because they had planned to broadcast the opposition leader’s unofficial “inauguration” in Nairobi.<\/p>\n
Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i told reporters they would stay closed until investigations were complete.<\/p>\n
NTV, KTN and Citizen TV went off-air at around 09:10 (06:10 GMT) on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
They had previously been warned not to cover\u00a0the ceremony naming Raila Odinga as “the people’s president”.<\/p>\n
The Interior Ministry said in a statement circulating on social media that broadcasting the event – described as an attempt to “subvert or overthrow” the government – “would have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Kenyans”.<\/p>\n
However, Kenyan journalists denounced the move as outrageous and in a statement called for “respect of the constitution” and an end to the “unprecedented intimidation of journalists”.<\/p>\n
The Interior Ministry said it was a “serious breach of security”.<\/p>\n
Mr Matiang’i told reporters: “As a result of what happened yesterday, we have commenced investigations targeting individuals. Media houses will remain closed until we complete investigations.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, opposition MP TJ Kajwang, who wore his lawyer’s wig and stood next to Mr Odinga while he was being “sworn in”, has been arrested.<\/p>\n
Mr Odinga held his own “inauguration” after claiming he was the rightful winner of last year’s election.<\/p>\n
President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term last November. He won an election re-run in October, but Mr Odinga boycotted it.<\/p>\n
Mr Kenyatta’s initial victory was overturned by the Supreme Court, citing “irregularities and illegalities”.<\/p>\n
The inauguration event in Uhuru park was attended by thousands of supporters, and went off peacefully.<\/p>\n
Citizen TV live streamed the event on its website, and on YouTube and Facebook.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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