The analogue broadcasting signal switch off for Nairobi and its environs has been put on hold, at least for 45 days pending the hearing and determination of an appeal by three media houses.

The media houses; Nation Media Group, the Standard Group and the Royal Media Services, moved to the Court of Appeal seeking orders to stop the switch off after the High Court dismissed their petition.

A three judge bench led by Justice Kihara Kariuki subsequently instructed the Communications Commission of Kenya and the ICT ministry to reinstate analogue broadcasting until February 6, 2014 when the appeal will be heard.

On December 26, 2013 analogue signals were switched off in Nairobi and its environs following a High Court ruling on December 23, 2013 that dismissed a petition seeking to stop the process.

In his ruling, High Court Judge David Majanja, had found no reasonable ground to halt the switch off as the petitioners had failed to convince the court that the process was unconstitutional.

The three judge bench comprising of Justices Kihara Kariuki, Alnashir Visram and Hannah Okwengu are scheduled to give reasons for ordering the temporary return of analogue broadcasting on January 31