The Kenyan High Court has put off the hearing date for a petition by the Consumer Federations of Kenya (Cofek), a consumer rights group, against the government’s plan to switch off analogue television.
The decision to put off the hearing date to December 20 came after the government asked the court for more time to prepare necessary affidavits.
High Court Justice Isaac Lenaola gave the government until Thursday this week to file replying affidavits, after which the case shall proceed for inter-parties hearing and initial directions.
In the case, Cofek has sought orders from the court to stop the government from switching off analogue broadcasting in Nairobi on December 31.
Cofek argues that the switch-off would leave many Nairobi residents without a medium of communication, thereby missing out on the much-needed civic education ahead of next year’s general elections.
Cofek explained that there are no concrete reasons as to why Kenya should be rushed into migration at short notice with the digital devices needed “out of reach” of many Kenyans.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information and Communications permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo was cautioned against his social media tirades.
Dr. Ndemo was warned over social media diatribes aimed at Cofek, after having directed a provocative tweet at the consumer rights group accusing it of protecting the elitist broadcast platform, as earlier reported byHumanIPO.
He had further blamed Cofek for advancing monopolistic practices in the Kenyan media as well as turning the country against the regional economic bloc after EAC member states settled for the December 31 deadline.
The court urged Ndemo to channel his grievances through it.
