The Computer Society of Kenya

Since 1986

TVpx2SATURDAY NATION By MAUREEN KAKAH

Saturday April 12, 2014

Four signal distributors have been stopped from airing any content belonging to three media houses without permission.

A two-judge Supreme Court bench Friday barred Signet Kenya, Star Times Media, Pan Africa Network Group Kenya and GOTV Kenya from broadcasting content owned by Royal Media Services, Nation Media Group and the Standard Group, without the consent of the media companies.

Judges Jackton Boma Ojwang and Smokin Wanjala further upheld the Appeal court’s decision that allowed owners of analogue sets to enjoy television until September 30.

The judges directed the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) not to switch off any broadcasting frequencies.

The orders will be in force pending the hearing and determination of an appeal that the Communications Commission of Kenya and the government intends to lodge at the highest court.

“We have noted the importance and urgency of hearing this appeal as a basis for determining contending claims on merit,” they said as they declined to suspend some of the orders that had been made by the Appeals court.

The Attorney-General and the CCK moved to the top court on Thursday to try to stop the implementation of the Appeal court’s judgement.

The lower court had also ruled that the CCK as currently constituted lacked powers to regulate the industry.

Friday, the Supreme Court judges ruled that the legal effect of that of the Appeal judges’ declaration that the CCK was not the independent body envisaged in the Constitution remains in abeyance pending the hearing and determination of the intended appeal.

However, the order that directed the commission to award signal distribution licences to the Nation Media Group, Standard Group and the Royal Media Services was not dealt with at this stage.

The parties were directed to file their documents in the appeal within 21 days and report to the court’s registrar on May 27 to confirm compliance.

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