Row as Kenya local TVs barred from Ruto inauguration

The choice was supported by Mr. Ruto's communications staff, who said the contractor will "offer a gateway for the rest of Africa."

Row as Kenya local TVs barred from Ruto inauguration

In order to give Multichoice Kenya Ltd, a subsidiary of a South African pay-TV business, exclusive broadcast rights to the presidential inauguration, the team of the incoming president of Kenya has prohibited local media from covering it.

KBC, the national broadcaster of Kenya, owns a small portion in Multichoice Kenya Ltd.

The contractor's live feed will be delivered to regional broadcasters.

Although the contract's specifics haven't been made public, local media outlets have frequently covered presidential inaugurations on a collaborative basis without charging the government any money.

Local media outlets and journalists have protested the revelation, with the top-tier Daily Nation daily accusing the president-elect of squandering "opportunity to ascend to statesmanship."

The editorial on Monday stated, "The optics of handing a foreign broadcaster the sole responsibility to cover a state function are cringeworthy.

The choice was supported by Mr. Ruto's communications staff, who said the contractor will "offer a gateway for the rest of Africa."

Additionally, they claim that the local media has a bias against Mr. Ruto due to negative coverage of his campaigns and the coalition he leads, Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First).