Kenya’s Citizen TV back on air after suspension

NAIROBI: Kenya’s leading private TV station Citizen TV was back on air on Thursday a week after authorities suspended it and two other broadcasters for showing the mock inauguration of opposition leader Raila Odinga as president.

Citizen TV resumed broadcasting three days after two of its private rivals, NTV and KTN News, who had likewise ignored a government injunction against showing the January 30 Odinga ceremony. The channel returned a day after Kenya’s Chief Justice criticised the government for defying a number of court orders which he said placed the rule of law under threat.

In a rare public statement David Maraga -- who rose to international attention last September when he annulled Kenya’s presidential election -- warned the government’s refusal to comply with various court orders over the last week was "at odds with Kenya’s constitutional outlook" and undermined the integrity of the judicial system. Maraga did not specify which orders he was referring to but a High Court ruling last Friday suspending the government’s order for the broadcasting shutdown, which it found arbitrary and repressive, had been ignored. Eventually Miguna was deported to Canada late on Tuesday, in defiance of the High Court judge Luka Kimaru.