19 Days in 2015: An Analysis of the Framing of the Digital Migration Debate by Cartoonists in Selected Kenyan Newspapers

Abstract

Early on the afternoon of February 14th, 2015, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) switched off analogue transmissions for four of the nation’s leading television stations: Citizen TV, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Nation Television (NTV) and QTV. On a day several Kenyans were celebrating Valentine’s Day, those watching television suddenly saw screen scrolls which revealed that the regulator was interfering with regular programming. Although the stations were expected to continue transmission on other signal distribution platforms, they withdrew their content, citing copyright infringement, editorial independence, the need to fully prepare for digital migration, and protection of their investments, conservatively estimated to be worth Kshs. 40 billion (Business Today,