Court warns Ndemo on digital petition talks

A Nairobi court on Monday cautioned Information and Communications Permanent Secretary Dr Bitange Ndemo against discussing a consumer lobby digital migration petition on social media.

Judge Isaac Lenaola asked Ndemo's lawyers to advise him to instead channel his grievance in court.

Last week, Dr Ndemo took to the social media to protest the decision by Consumer Federation of Kenya (Cofek) to block the December 31 deadline set for migration to digital TV in Nairobi.

Ndemo condemned Cofek for a petition filed in the High Court last Monday seeking to push the migration deadline from end of this month to coincide with the global cut-over date of 2015. Read (Digital TV: 16m Kenyans risk being switched off)

“I find it most unfortunate that Cofek has gone to court to stop the planned digital switchover on December 31. The cost of not migrating will be far too greater.

“Further, every new channel creates 30 new jobs. Does Cofek really understand this? Whose agenda are they advancing?” Dr Ndemo tweeted.

He said the digital migration will result in increased number of channels, which will help the country achieve a pluralistic and diversified broadcast environment, in addition to creating jobs.

Judge Lenaola also gave the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) more time to file reply.

Hearing will be on December 20.