Kenya Shuts Down 75 Broadcasters in License Crackdown

In 2024, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) rescinded 75 licenses held by various broadcasters due to breaches of licensing terms. The Kenya Gazette published revocation notices first in April and the second batch in November 2024. These Gazette notices led to the license revocation of TV and FM broadcasters, a signal distributor, and a Subscription Management Service.

By law, CA is mandated to issue licenses for broadcasting services not requiring frequency allocation (e.g., cable TV, subscription management, landing rights). The regulator also issues licenses for services requiring frequency spectrum.

April witnessed the largest share of revoked licenses with 56.

ID	Licensee Name	Service	Reason
1	Zanira Company Ltd	Mwaria TV	Non-compliance
2	BClimax Africa Limited	Miracles TV	Non-compliance
3	Christian Broadcasting Network Ltd	Magodo TV	Non-compliance
4	Parallel Media Ltd	Mugumo TV	Non-compliance
5	Petanns Driving School and Computer College Ltd	Murata TV	Non-compliance
6	Pwani Media Group Ltd	Pwani TV	Non-compliance
7	Rescue Media Group Services Ltd	Rescue TV	Non-compliance
8	Sauti ya Mwananchi Radio & Television Network	Sauti TV	Non-compliance
9	Himilo TV Company Ltd	RTN TV	Non-compliance
10	Lamu Youth Alliance	Lamu Youth TV	Non-compliance
11	Madgoat Television Ltd	Madgoat Television	Non-compliance
12	Misoft Ltd	Misoft TV	Non-compliance
13	Mitume Media Ltd	Mitume TV	Non-compliance
14	Mount Kenya Royal College	Mugwe TV	Non-compliance
15	Musonga Holdings	Elgon TV	Non-compliance
16	Mwanyagetinge Television	Mwanyagetinge TV	Non-compliance
17	NEP Media Services Ltd	NEP Television	Non-compliance
18	Slopes Media House Ltd	Mt. Kenya TV	Non-compliance
19	Cable News Agency Ltd	CAN	Non-compliance
20	Border Media Ltd	Border TV	Non-compliance
21	Bethsaida Githima Enterprises Ltd	Fire Television	Non-compliance
22	Asante Media Ltd	Biashara TV	Non-compliance
23	Arimus Media Ltd	Arimus TV	Non-compliance
24	Whealth Consultancy	Health Television	Non-compliance
25	Trimax Media House Ltd	Getu TV	Non-compliance
26	The Daesak Media Services Ltd	Daesak TV	Non-compliance
27	Stonewood Enterprises	Ingo TV	Non-compliance
28	Emsam Media Services Ltd	Kilunda Television Network	Non-compliance
29	Petroline East Africa Ltd	Laikipia TV	Non-compliance
30	Nairobi Commodities Exchange Ltd	Mwananchi Television	Non-compliance
31	Mwonyamo Visual Ltd	Mwamogusii Television	Non-compliance
32	Midas Broadcasting Corporation Ltd	Biz TV	Non-compliance
33	Methodist Church in Kenya	MMS TV	Non-compliance
34	Kwese TV Kenya Ltd	Kwese Free Sport	Non-compliance
35	Kenya National Farmers Federation	Kilimo TV	Non-compliance
36	Kathus Communications	Kathus TV	Non-compliance
37	Jubilee Christian Church	Jubilee TV	Non-compliance
38	Jimmigathu Incorporated Ltd	Islamia TV	Non-compliance
39	Jeremy Education Services Ltd	Christian Faith TV	Non-compliance
40	Homeland Television Ltd	Homeland Television Network	Non-compliance
41	High Life Radio Ltd	High Life Television	Non-compliance
42	Health TV Africa Ltd	Health TV	Non-compliance
43	Havilah Goldland Enterprises Ltd	Havilah Television Network	Non-compliance
44	Harvest Family Ministries	Harvest Family TV	Non-compliance
45	Global Vision Television Ltd	Global Vision Television	Non-compliance
46	Geoplan Consultants Ltd	Go Preach Gospel TV	Non-compliance
47	Frontier Optical Networks	FON TV	Non-compliance
48	Fortunes Media International Ltd	IFortunes TV	Non-compliance
49	Focus Television Ltd	Focus TV	Non-compliance
50	End Time Ltd	End Time TV	Non-compliance
51	Elimu Digital Media	Elimu TV	Non-compliance
52	Dominion Broadcasting Network Kenya Ltd	Dominion Broadcasting Network TV	Non-compliance
53	Design Television Ltd	Design TV	Non-compliance
54	Consumer Group Ltd	Brandplus TV	Non-compliance
55	Clergy Media Ltd	Clergy TV	Non-compliance
56	Community Life Uplift Organization	Daystar TV Kenya	Non-compliance

The second smaller batch was in November. It comprises:

1	Sky Group Limited	Sky 106.1 FM	Non-compliance
2	Truckside Advertising Limited	Njata FM	Non-compliance
3	Truckside Advertising Limited	Njata TV	Non-compliance
4	Chonjo Products Limited	Kihooto FM	Non-compliance
5	Realprime Ventures Limited	Somal FM	Non-compliance
6	Nairobi Commodities Exchange Limited	NACEX FM	Non-compliance
7	Luhya Media Services Limited	Radio Luhya FM	Non-compliance
8	Cosmopolitan Media Limited	TV Cosmopolitan	Non-compliance
9	Smart Media Colleges Limited	Utugi TV	Non-compliance
10	Life Point Media Limited	Radio Ashe	Licensee request to terminate
11	Rock Community Based Organization	Mwijoyo FM	Licensee request to terminate
12	Switch TV Limited	Switch TV	Licensee request to terminate
13	Lancia Digital Broadcast Limited	Bamba TV	Licensee request to terminate
14	Econet Media Kenya Ltd	Econet Media (K) Ltd SMS	Licensee request to terminate
15	Econet Media Limited	Kwese TV Landing Rights	Licensee request to terminate
16	Innova Media Limited	Kiss TV	Licensee request to terminate
17	Tribune Media Network Limited	TMN TV	Non-compliance
18	Cable News Agency Limited	Tusmo FM	Licensee request to terminate
19	Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives Limited	KUSCCO FM	Licensee request to terminate

It is noteworthy that Econet Media (K) Ltd, operating as a Subscription Management Service; Kiss TV; Kwese TV, which held a Landing Rights Licence; Bamba TV, a self-provisioning Broadcast Signal Distributor; Switch TV; Mwinjoyo FM; KUSCCO FM; Tusmo FM; and Radio Ashe all submitted requests for service termination.

As of November 29, 2024, the country has 672 licensed broadcasters.