David Mugonyi is now facing serious criticism after The Sunday Standard openly accused him of betraying press freedom during the recent Gen Z protests.
The newspaper didn’t hold back in its June 29th edition, directly calling out Mugonyi’s leadership at the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The front page branded his actions as a betrayal to the very journalistic values he once stood for. This is not just about one directive. It is about the dangerous path the government is taking in trying to silence the truth and using someone like Mugonyi, who once fought for the truth, to lead that mission.
The backlash started after the Communications Authority, under Mugonyi’s watch, issued a directive stopping TV stations from airing the June 25 protests live.
These protests were led by Gen Zs demanding accountability from the government, an issue that attracted attention across the country.
Instead of allowing Kenyans to see what was happening in real time, Mugonyi’s office decided to black out the coverage and gave a legal excuse to back it up.
The CA pointed to the Kenya Information and Communications Act, specifically Articles 33(2) and 34(1), to justify their move, claiming that live broadcasting violated certain broadcasting standards.
But this excuse didn’t sit well with many. Kenyans from all walks of life immediately saw through the move.
Activists, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens interpreted it as a clear attempt to hide what the government didn’t want the public to see.
The media was silenced just when the public needed it most. The Standard’s editorial went even further, hitting hard at Mugonyi for turning against the very profession that once shaped his name.
They questioned how a former journalist who once stood for the truth could now lead efforts to suppress it.
Mugonyi is no longer seen as a champion of free speech but as a tool for state control.It’s not just about Mugonyi’s personal shift. His decisions now raise bigger questions about the future of media independence in Kenya.
If someone who once believed in the truth can switch sides so easily, what does that say about the safety of journalists in the country?
The Standard warned that this move is not just about one protest but a dangerous sign that the state is willing to crush press freedom in the name of law and order.
Mugonyi’s actions have now become the symbol of how fast Kenya’s democratic values are being undermined.
Many Kenyans are demanding an explanation. They want the Communications Authority to reverse the directive and allow open access to information.
The public is no longer silent, and the media is refusing to be intimidated. Mugonyi may have tried to block the screens, but the people are now watching him.
