In yet another twist to the seemingly neverending digital migration saga in Kenya, four media stations, Kenya Television Network, Q-TV, Nation Television, and Citizen Television, went off air this past weekend, leaving most viewers in the dark as to what happened.

The three stations fall under the African Digital Network consortium and had, until last Friday, enjoyed temporary exemption from the compulsory digital migration process, pending outcome of a legal case.

On Friday last week the Consortium lost its case and the Supreme Court issued an order for the stations to move to a digital platform.

The Communication Authority (CA) gave the three media houses until midnight Friday to make the move or face being forcibly switched off.

Having failed to meet the CA deadline, the three media houses had their analogue frequencies switched off Saturday morning. Soon after, even digital signals that were available on DSTv, Zuku and other free-to-air set top boxes were off.

The message posted on blank screens from the media stations said that despite the Supreme Court ruling to have digital licenses issued, the CA has not complied and thus forced a shutdown of signals. They also say that they are in the process of importing their own set top boxes to allow Kenyans to watch the local channels again.

In response, the government has vehemently condemned the move by the three media houses and vowed to take more action against them.

"Both switching themselves off the digital transmission and screening inaccurate messages is both illegal and in blatant breach of the conditions of their licensing. The government notes this with great concern and hopes the CA will take independent regulatory action on the same," Fred Matiang'i the cabinet secretary for ICT and Communication said.

He added that: "The conduct of the three media houses is contemptuous to the Supreme Court. It is irrational and perhaps intended to incite public opinion against the regulator and the government. Their antics are unbecoming of responsible investors in Kenya's emerging dynamic and highly respected communication sector."

Francis Wangusi, the director general of CA, said on K24 channel, that the media houses have flouted the law by switching off their services without notifying the regulator and they may be slapped with penalties.

Despite accusation from the three media houses of bias against them, Wangusi said that the CA was not applying the law selectively and that every media stations have switched off their analogue systems in designated areas.

As the standoff prolongs, the CA is still on course to switch the whole country to the digital platform by March 31st this year beating the global deadline of June 17th this year.