SANEF Condemns Kenyan Government’s Crackdown on Media Freedom

June 27, 2025 – Kenya – 

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has expressed deep concern over escalating threats to media freedom in Kenya, warning that recent actions by the government are part of a dangerous pattern of repression that could reverberate across the continent. In a public statement issued on June 27, 2025, SANEF specifically condemned the Kenyan Communications Authority for its role in targeting independent media houses, including through signal disruptions and equipment seizures during politically sensitive periods.

According to SANEF, these actions appear designed to suppress dissent and restrict the public’s access to information during key national events. Reports have indicated that media outlets critical of the Kenyan government faced either temporary blackouts or were subjected to regulatory harassment under the guise of compliance enforcement. SANEF labeled these acts as “blatant censorship” and called on Kenyan authorities to reverse course and respect constitutional guarantees of press freedom.

Beyond Kenya, SANEF warned that such measures threaten to normalize state-led suppression of journalism across Africa. As press freedom continues to erode in countries like Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia, Kenya—historically seen as a relatively open media environment—is now joining a troubling continental trend. SANEF emphasized that the ability of the media to report freely and independently is a cornerstone of democracy and vital for ensuring government transparency and accountability.

The forum also appealed to African regional bodies, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), to hold member states accountable for violations against journalists. It urged solidarity among media organizations, journalists’ unions, and civil society to resist what it described as a creeping authoritarianism disguised as regulation.

“Democracy dies when the press is silenced,” SANEF stated, reaffirming its commitment to defending journalism not only in South Africa but across the region. The organization pledged to monitor the situation in Kenya closely and collaborate with local partners to support journalists under threat.

In a time of rising misinformation and political polarization, SANEF’s warning underscores the urgent need for regional vigilance and international solidarity in defending press freedom before censorship becomes the new norm in Africa’s democracies.

Reference – 

Sanef bemoans threats to media freedom carried by the Kenyan government