<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="text-align: justify;">I find it funny that people are reading 'politics' here when it is clear that Royal Media Services had clearly broken the law, 'grabbed' frequencies and acted with 'impunity'. Although I am a great supporter of the freedom of the media, and right to information, CCK acted within the law by shutting down the transmitters. I also find it odd that Justice David Majanja issued the order <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 21px; text-align: left; ">restraining the Communications Commission of Kenya from interfering with 18transmitters </span>on Sunday. I hope such court services can be extended to the 'common people' who continue to suffer injustice. Perhaps CCK can also tell us how many 'legitimate' <span style="line-height: 13px; text-align: justify; ">frequencies Royal Media Services has besides </span> <span style="text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 13px;">62 FM ones( is this figure correct) it reportedly 'hoards'. Why does Royal Media Services </span></span><span style="line-height: 13px;">think it's above the law? I find it absolutely ludicrous that this can be allowed to continue, and that some (especially (even senior) politicians) think the shut down is politically motivated.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div><br></div><div apple-content-edited="true">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div>Dr George Nyabuga Tel: +230 403 51 00<br>Head, Communications and PR, AFRINIC Fax: +230 466 67 58</div><div><a href="mailto:george@afrinic.net">george@afrinic.net</a> - <a href="http://www.afrinic.net/">www.afrinic.net</a><br> <br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>Please join us at the Africa Internet Summit, Lusaka, Zambia, 9 – 21 June 2013<br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div></div>
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<br><div><div>On Feb 3, 2013, at 11:46 PM, "Grace Mutung'u (Bomu)" <<a href="mailto:nmutungu@gmail.com">nmutungu@gmail.com</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">and then came the court orders...on a good sunday!<br><br>2013/2/3, Grace Githaiga <<a href="mailto:ggithaiga@hotmail.com">ggithaiga@hotmail.com</a>>:<br><blockquote type="cite"><br>Finally!<br>CCK has taken the right direction and should not be cowed by all the noise<br>in<br>the blogsphere. The law must be enforced regardless of the timing. An<br>illegality is an illegality. Kindly let us not politicize the matter.<br>Enforcement of this judgment does not in any way relate to SK supporting<br>CORD.<br>This should be seen as a pure enforcement of a broadcast requirement.<br><br><br><br>Broadcast<br>licences have conditions and CCK does warn against their breaching.<br> For example CCK is usually clear on power of transmitter, the radius of<br>broadcast, the equipment that is approved etc. If for example you go beyond<br>that radius, or use a more powerful transmitter and therefore interfere<br>with<br>other stations' signals, you breach the law and CCK has to come in. Further,<br>in<br>this case, RMS was given sufficient time to put in corrective measures.<br><br><br><br>This<br>court case between RMS and CCK has been going on for a while. Please read:<br><a href="http://kenyalaw.org/CaseSearch/view_preview1.php?link=70542457891338696266282">http://kenyalaw.org/CaseSearch/view_preview1.php?link=70542457891338696266282</a><br><br><br><br>Just<br>to highlight a few things:<br><br>CCK<br>issued a public notice on May 17, 2012 where it warned of "UNAUTHORISED USE<br>OF BROADCAST FREQUENCIES" in the Daily Nation, and<br>reminded "the licensed<br>frequency users that all radio frequency transmitters must be operated under<br>a<br>valid licence whose conditions must be adhered to. In accordance with<br>the Kenya Information and<br>Communications Act, Cap 411A, operation of radio services without a licence<br>is an offence that<br>attracts a fine of Kshs.5 million and imprisonment for a term not exceeding<br>three years or both"<br><br><br><br>Those operating illegal licences were given a<br>30 day notice to surrender the frequencies, failure to which CCK warned that<br>it<br>would take action. Several radio stations among them Neutral Digital<br>Broadcasters Limited, Trans World Radio – Kenya, Real-Time Solutions<br>Limited,<br>Imani Radio & TV Ministries, Capital FM and other stations duly complied<br>with the direction and informed CCK that they had installed band filters to<br>minimise harmful interference.<br><br><br><br>CCK wrote to RMS a “Notice of Violation” letter dated 3rd August<br>2012, where several non conformities were noted. CCK was concerned<br>that that despite having asked RMS to correct the anomalies, no action had<br>been taken. CCK further asked RMS to take corrective measures within 30<br>days<br>from the date of the letter to ensure that it installs "the band pass<br>filters, obtain Type Approval for its transmitters, shut down unauthorised<br>stations and relocate to the designated broadcast sites". RMS on different<br>dates received more letters from CCK on unauthorized use<br>frequencies.<br><br><br><br>Needless to say, RMS did not comply and instead<br>went to court (it enjoined the AG and the Minister of Information) arguing<br>that it was entitled to continued use of the frequencies since the body<br>envisaged by Article 34 (5) of Kenya's 2010 Constitution for licensing and<br>issuing broadcaster’s frequencies was<br>yet to be established. Further, RMS argued that the letters and Notice<br>issued<br>by CCK contravened/violated its fundamental rights and freedoms under<br>Articles<br>34, 40, 47 and 48 of Kenya's Constitution and requested the court.<br>Additionally, RMS wanted (14) (g) A permanent injunction restraining the 2nd<br>(Minister) and<br>3rd (CCK) respondents<br>or any of them from cancelling, stopping, suspending, restricting or in any<br>way<br>whatsoever interfering with the petitioner’s licences frequencies,<br>broadcasting<br>spectrums and broadcasting services.<br><br><br><br>The<br>courts (Justice Majanja) already re-emphasized the regulatory role of CCK<br>in<br>issuance of licences and frequencies on 18th January 2013.<br><br><br><br>This<br>is the summary of the ruling.<br><br><br><br>Conclusion and disposition<br><br>62. In summary, I find and hold that the CCK is<br>entitled to exercise regulatory authority over broadcasting and other<br>electronic media pursuant to the Kenya Information and<br>Communications Act until such time as Parliament establishes the<br>body contemplated under Article 34(5) of the<br>Constitution. Thus prayers (a), (b) and (c) of the amended petition are<br>dismissed.<br><br>63. I find and hold that the letters dated 6th March<br>2012, 3rd August 2012, the Notice of Violation dated 3rd August<br>2012 and the notice issued in the Daily Nation of 17th May 2012<br>are not in contravention of the petitioners rights protected by Articles<br>34, 40 and 47 of the Constitution as they<br>are in the nature of notices that afford RMS to show cause why regulatory<br>action should not be taken against it. As a consequence, I reject prayers<br>(d),<br>and (e) of the amended petition.<br><br>64. The grant of prayers (f) and (g) of the amended<br>petition would have the effect of excluding RMS from statutory regulations.<br>As<br>I have held, I do not think regulatory action, which entitles the RMS to<br>due<br>process is a violation of the Constitution nor does such action interfere<br>with<br>its fundamental rights and freedoms of the petitioner.<br><br>65. In view of the findings I have made, the<br>petition is dismissed. As this is a matter for the enforcement of<br>fundamental<br>rights and freedoms I decline to make an award for costs.<br><br>66. I thank counsel who appeared in this matter<br>for their detailed submissions.<br><br>DATED and DELIVERED at NAIROBI this<br>18th day of January 2013.<br><br><br> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><br></blockquote><br><br>-- <br>Grace L.N. Mutung'u (Bomu)<br>Kenya<br>Skype: gracebomu<br>Twitter: @Bomu<br>Website: <a href="http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu">http://www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profile/GraceMutungu</a><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>kictanet mailing list<br><a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a><br>https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet<br><br>Unsubscribe or change your options at https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/george%40afrinic.net<br><br>The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.<br><br>KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth, share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.<br><br></blockquote></div><br></body></html>