Kenya: Kenyan Muslims ban DStv

South African pay TV channel DStv has been banned in Kenya’s Mandera Town in North Eastern Province by the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, reports Dennis Itumbi for urnalism.co.za. Also outlawed are video shops, blamed for eroding moral values among the youth and causing poor academic performance.

Supkem’s head office announced the move and said the measure should be rolled out countrywide.

The Nation quoted an anonymous person at the head office saying, “we will extend the ban countrywide”.

The Supkem Mandera branch immediately closed down several video rooms that air popular video shows and football, “in support of Islamic teachings”.

The region is predominantly Muslim and the religious leaders said Islamic teachings had to be followed to the letter.

The ban comes at a time when Kenya is debating a new constitution, with church leaders leading a No campaign against the proposed draft on the grounds that it allows Kadhi courts to operate with state funding.

Only hours after the story was aired by the BBC and later by the Nation Media Group, Kenyans reacted furiously wondering why an Islamic grouping was wielding such powers.

Kenyan blogs and social media were full of the debate. Information minister Samuel Phogisio criticized the move.

He said that Kenyans subscribe to the service mainly because of the local and international football games broadcast by the station.

The minister pointed out that the Constitution protects Kenyans’ right to assemble. The ban, he said was a violation of such rights.

“Kenyans in Mandera also have a right to what they view,” he said.

The minister insisted that the Muslim leaders had no powers to effect such a ban.

MultiChoice Kenya, which operates the DStv channels, maintained a wait and see approach to the development.

“I am sorry I can’t tell you anything for sure, we are still monitoring the situation and as soon as we are ready we will let you know,” the company’s public relations manager Stella Ondimu told journalism.co.za when reached for comment.


- April 29, 2010 by Dennis Itumbi
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Source: www.journalism.co.za/index.php (accessed on 29.04.2010)