Kenya's digital migration process is set to go ahead as initially planned for later this month after an application by media houses to have it deferred failed.

Leading Kenyan media houses including the Nation Media Group, Royal Media Services and the Standard Media Group, were challenging plans to implement the process on December 23.

The media houses, represented by lawyer Paul Muite, were pushing their plea to be heard by a three-judge bench.

However, a ruling by Justice David Majanja of High Court stopped such hopes insisting he would handle the case himself.

“The matter is not of demanding magnitude and I am in a capacity to handle it by myself,” said the judge.

Media have criticized the government over “short notice” especially for their viewers who seem not ready for the digital migration changes.

The government through the ministry of information and the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) had earlier informed the media houses and Kenyans to prepare for the changes.

The pay TV requires decoders which media argue are too expensive for many viewers in the country at the moment.

Local media houses also fear suffering huge losses as about 2 million TV viewers are set to be disconnected.

Meanwhile, DSTV, GOtv and other pay TV service providers are reaping heavily through decoder sales as the deadline for the migration to digital broadcasting approaches.