Four TV stations shut for broadcasting NASA swearing-in

The Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK ) has switched off Citizen, KTN and Inooro Televisions as well as some radio stations including Citizen radio for broadcasting the swearing in of Raila Odinga, the former presidential candidate of the National Super Alliance-NASA.

The switch off came after the televisions carried a live broadcast of the arrival of NASA supporters at Uhuru Park in Kenya's capital, Nairobi this morning for the swearing of Odinga and Stephen Kalonzyo Musyoka as president and vice president of the people respectively.

The Kenya Union of Journalists has condemned the intimidation of media houses and journalists for covering the swearing in ceremony.

Meanwhile, Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga has labeled today, the most important day in Kenya after the country’s independence day.

The NASA leader was speaking in confirmation that he will proceed with taking ‘oath of office of the president’ at Uhuru park in Nairobi.

“Today is a very historical day for the nation of Kenya, I would say the most important day since the independence of this country,” Odinga said.

The opposition leader also went ahead to share a video at from the venue at Uhuru park and captioned it; “Graciously accepting the mandate granted us by the Kenyan people on August 8th.”

However, Kenya’s Chief Justice and President of the supreme court, David K. Maraga has issued warning to Opposition leader Raila Odinga to abandon swearing himself in.

In a statement dated January 25, Maraga says the act would amount to treason and the parties should desist from it.

“As per the Supreme Court ruling on the 20th November 2017 Uhuru Kenyatta is the validly elected President of the Republic of Kenya and the Commander In Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. He was legitimately sworn in on the 28th of November in the public in the presence of the Chief Justice as per articles 140 and 141 of the constitution of Kenya 2010,” the statement reads in part.

“As such, any other event advertised as having been planned for the same will be illegal and an attempt to unseat a legitimate government which would amount to treason. Therefore, all judges and Magistrates are hereby cautioned not to engage in any such events or activities,” the statement continues.

Earlier, Voi police chief Joseph Chesire confirmed the release of three buses ferrying National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters to Uhuru Park.

According to Chesire, the buses were impounded at about midnight by police during a routine check. He said that the vehicle operators had not complied with the requirement of having at least two drivers and that majority of them did not have identification documents.