{"id":460188,"date":"2018-01-31T16:53:08","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T16:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghana-mma.com\/2018\/01\/31\/kenya-tv-stations-to-remain-off-air-after-odinga-inauguration\/"},"modified":"2018-01-31T16:53:08","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T16:53:08","slug":"kenya-tv-stations-to-remain-off-air-after-odinga-inauguration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2018\/01\/31\/kenya-tv-stations-to-remain-off-air-after-odinga-inauguration\/","title":{"rendered":"Kenya TV stations to remain off-air after Odinga ‘inauguration’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Three of Kenya\u2019s biggest television stations will remain off-air until further notice because they had planned to broadcast the opposition leader\u2019s unofficial \u201cinauguration\u201d in Nairobi.<\/p>\n

Interior Minister Fred Matiang\u2019i told reporters they would stay closed until investigations were complete.<\/p>\n

Shortly after he spoke, opposition MP Tom Kajwang was arrested.<\/p>\n

Mr Kajwang played a prominent role in Tuesday\u2019s ceremony naming Raila Odinga as \u201cthe people\u2019s president\u201d.<\/p>\n

The outspoken MP had donned a lawyer\u2019s robe and wig, to the amusement of thousands of cheering opposition supporters in Uhuru park, in the capital Nairobi.<\/p>\n

It is unclear why he was taken into custody.<\/p>\n

However, the Interior Ministry did explain its decision to shut down the three television channels. It said in a statement circulating on social media that broadcasting the event \u2013 described as an attempt to \u201csubvert or overthrow\u201d the government \u2013 \u201cwould have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent Kenyans\u201d.<\/p>\n

As a result, NTV, KTN and Citizen TV were taken off-air at around 09:10 (06:10 GMT) on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Kenyan journalists denounced the move as outrageous and in a statement called for \u201crespect of the constitution\u201d and an end to the \u201cunprecedented intimidation of journalists\u201d.<\/p>\n

But the Interior Ministry said it was a \u201cserious breach of security\u201d.<\/p>\n

Mr Matiang\u2019i told reporters: \u201cAs a result of what happened yesterday, we have commenced investigations targeting individuals. Media houses will remain closed until we complete investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Odinga held his own \u201cinauguration\u201d after claiming he was the rightful winner of last year\u2019s 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\u2019s initial victory was overturned by the Supreme Court, citing \u201cirregularities and illegalities\u201d.<\/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

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Source: BBC<\/strong><\/p>\n

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