The Kenya Media Industry - Televison and Radio

Author: William Ang'awa, kenya.org.uk 2002

The media industry in Kenya was largely state controlled during the period 1963 (when Kenya achieved independence) to the late 1990's. The Kenya government had total control over the one and only television and radio network, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as the KBC. The KBC changed its name to the Voice of Kenya, a name that brought joy to the politicians who were in power during this period, but mix feelings with the Kenyan general public who had access to television and radio. There were some excellent programmes, for example, Mzee Pembe and Co (one of Kenya's first comedy groups). The KBC and VOK staff should be commended and credited for the pioneering work, usually under difficult circumstances. The organisation has since reverted to its original name KBC. The late 1990's saw the liberalisation of the media industry. Internal and external pressures have brought about the positive changes. The government continues to keep a close eye on these developments. There is an ongoing debate on how free and fair the media industry in Kenya really is.

Kenyans, if compared to people in other developing countries, now enjoy a vibrant media industry, offering opportunities for entrepreneurs, both local and foreign. There are new and exciting thought provoking publications, some of which are indigenous, covering a wide range of issues. Kenyans now have access to over 6 TV channels (some which incorporate international satellite channels), keeping them in touch with world developments as they happen. Industry commentators are of the opinion that there is still a long way to go in terms of content and transparency.

Anyone revisiting Kenya or researching the industry will notice the dominant and established mainstream publications are The Nation Media Limited group who publish the Nation, Taifa Leo and The Standard Newspapers groups, who publish the East African Standard. These two media groups are quoted on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. The Nation and the Standard media groups have the highest readership in Kenya, if not East Africa, a fact which advertisers should take note. The publications have special editions in neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda.

Summary of key interesting developments in Kenya media industry (Television and radio):

The major media groups are now embracing new media.

Nation Media Group

The Nation Media group was the first major Kenyan newspaper to launch a website. The website won an award for it's coverage of the Nairobi bomb blast that occurred in August 1998. The group subsequently launched a radio and television station.

• Nation Media Group: Nation website (approximately 1.2 million hits a year) - www.nation.co.ke
  
• 96.4 Nation FM - The Sound Of The City
• Nation TV Channel 42

The Standard Newspapers

The Standard newspapers invested in their hard copy newspapers and KTN TV before embracing the internet. They launched their website at the end of 1999. Attention and traffic was drawn to the website due to it's excellent coverage of the Kenya Airways Airbus crash in the Ivory Coast.

• East African Standard website (approximately 15,000 hits a day) -www.eastandard.net
• KTN TV and the standard.

Kenya TV Stations

KBC TV (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation)
KTN TV
Nation TV Channel 42
Family TV
STV TV
M-Net/SuperSport/Movie Magic
Citizen TV

Kenya Radio Stations

KBC Radio (Kenya Broadcasting Corporation)
Capital 98.4 FM
96.4 Nation FM
Family 105.2 FM
Metro East FM 101.9
Kameme FM 101.1
Citizen FM
Baraka FM - Mombasa
Iqra 95.1 FM

If you require more information about the organisations above please contact: william.angawa@kenya.org.uk