The Communication Authority of Kenya has moved to tame a number of radio frequencies, Television stations, and Digital broadcasters in the country over what it termed as non-compliance of Kenya Information and Communications Act 1998, (KICA CAP411A),
“The Authority has initiated the cancellation of licence offers to the listed 60 applicants for radio broadcasting licences following their failure to comply with the licence offer conditions within the licence offer period as prescribed by the Authority in accordance with the Act. The cancellation of licence offer is accompanied by a notice of revocation of the FM broadcasting frequencies assigned to the applicants,” said Chiloba in a notice.
Among popular FM stations whose operating licenses have been revoked and cancelled are Capital Group-owned radio station Capital FM, KIMC FM, KU FM, One FM, Qwetu Radio.
Choloba also cancelled licence offers for 19 TV stations with Free-To-Air licenses including Shade TV, Youth TV, Nairobi TV, Bazaar TV among others.
In a notice dated December 22, 2021, the Ezra Chiloba led body gave the broadcasters a one-month period to comply failure to which their operating licenses shall be withdrawn.
Since his appointment as the Director-General of CA, on September 28 2021, Chiloba has more than twice put TV stations on the authority’s radar over content violation and non-compliance.
On December 4 this year Chiloba suspended Pastor James Nganga-owned TV station, SASA TV.
The authority cited content violation which was aired on December 3, 2021, by the station during the watershed period.
In an interview with KTN this month, Chiloba promised a reformed regulatory framework that is relevant and responsive to the needs of the times.
According to Chiloba, CA had firmed up its decision to repossess all unused broadcast licences and to redistribute them to new investors.
Out of 425 licences issued in the first quarter of this year, many remained unutilised, he said.
“On our part, we recognise the fact that drastic disruption and convergence of media structures and systems, requires a regulatory framework that is relevant and responsive. It is for this reason that we have embarked on a regulatory reform journey,” Chiloba said.
