The Kenyan media industry is often accused of being beholden to certain political and commercial interests who determine which contents is published and in what context.

Whenever controversial stories are pulled off air at the last minute, it is natural that Kenyans assume that such stories were offensive to certain powerful figures who pull the strings to ensure that sensitive information does not see the light of day.

Jeff Koinange on Mau Forest

Such was the case on Sunday night after a much-publicised documentary, by Jeff Koinange, on the Mau Forest failed to air on Citizen TV due to an unforeseen “technical hitch”.

The social media community has remained sceptical of the official communication, many of them fearing that the story was delayed for purposes of watering it down.

Pulselive.co.ke researched on other instances where controversial stories have failed to air at the last minute, some were aired at a later date while others never resurfaced.

KTN Drug trafficking

In March 2011, KTN published an investigate story on the drug trafficking menace.

The story was carried through the then popular programmes, Jicho Pevu by Mohamed Ali and Inside Story by Dennis Onsarigo.

The first episode of the three-part documentary run well but was temporarily pulled off air after then Juja MP William Kabogo obtained orders restraining the station from from publishing and broadcasting what he described as defamatory reports.

When the second and third parts were finally broadcast, they did not have any reference to Kabogo.

Uhuru exclusive on Citizen TV

Citizen TV Jacque Maribe in 2016 did an exclusive story with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The interview trailer, however, attracted negative publicity after a section of Kenyans complained that President Kenyatta was not wearing a seat belt while driving Maribe.

Despite being publicised by Citizen TV, the story did not ultimately air and the station did not offer any explanation.

Documentary on death of Chris Msando

KTN had in October last year indicated that it would run a documentary done by its’ investigate reporter Dennis Onsarigo, on the murder of former IEBC boss Chris Msando.

The documentary would have aired during a politically-charged period as the 2017 repeat Presidential election was looming.

The story was not published in the allotted period but was finally aired in December.

Corruption at KPLC

In February this year, KTN News had indicated it would run an investigative piece on the rot at KPLC.

The story had publicised #Hadubini by Hussein Mohammed and an English version of the same, #InsideSource by Francis Ontomwa.

However, on the material day, the station announced that the two stories would not run. No explanation was provided.