Kenya has a diverse media landscape with over 90 FM radio stations, 14 TV stations, and numerous newspapers and magazines. The largest media players include state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and Royal Media Services, which have nationwide coverage broadcasting in English, Swahili, and local languages. Popular radio stations include KBC, Citizen FM, and Kiss FM. Major TV stations are KBC, NTV, KTN, and Citizen TV. The Communication Commission of Kenya regulates the industry and has over 100 pending license applications. Major newspapers are The Daily Nation and The Standard.

1. Media in Kenya
 By: Daniel Calzone
 Communications

2. Media in Kenya
-There are more than 90 FM stations, 14 TV
stations and an unconfirmed number of print
newspapers and magazines in Kenya. They
mainly use English as their primary language,
with some media houses using Swahili. Use
of vernacular languages is also commonly
used in broadcast media in Kenya, mostly
radio.

3. Major Players
 Kenya’s state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
remains the only broadcaster with countrywide
coverage. It broadcasts in both English and Swahili plus
various vernacular languages.
 Royal Media services is the largest private national
broadcaster with countrywide coverage. It also
broadcasts in both English and Swahili plus various
vernacular languages. A dozen private radio and
television stations have ranges that are limited to the
Nairobi area.

4. Radio
 KBC, Citizen FM, Kiss FM (pop), Classic FM (classics),
Capital FM (rock and pop), Easy FM (R&B), Metro FM
(Reggae), X FM (Rock), Homeboyz Radio (Hip hop and
R&B) are the popular radio stations in Kenya in terms of
listeners and coverage.
 A number of established private radio stations broadcast
in local languages, including Kameme FM and Coro FM
(Kikuyu), Metro East FM (Hindi), Chamge FM, Kass FM
and Rehema Radio (Kalenjin), Lake Victoria (Luo),
Mulembe FM (Luhya), Mbaitu FM (Kamba) amongst
others.

5. TV
 KBC, NTV, KTN, Citizen TV, K24 are the biggest TV
stations in Kenya in terms of coverage and viewers.
 Recently entertainment TV began to pop up in Kenya
with the inclusion of Kiss TV, a 24 hour Music TV
Station and Classic TV which airs African movies,
programs, and music.
 Digital TV is also available in Kenya with two different
distributors SmartTVand DSTV.

6. Communication Commission of
Kenya
 More than 100 applications for radio and television
licenses are currently pending before the
Communication Commission of Kenya. The
Communication Commission is the independent
regulatory authority for the communications industry in
Kenya. Its role is to license and regulate
telecommunications, radio-communication and
postal/courier services in Kenya. Kenya’s print media
are diverse, ranging from well-respected newspapers
and magazines to an expansive tabloid press.

7. Newspaper
 There are two independent national newspapers in
Kenya, the Daily Nation, and The Standard. The top
Regional and specialized papers are the Business
Daily and The Star. They feature quality reporting, as
does the weekly, and The East African.

8. Moving Forward
 “From helping to organize youth meetings, to enabling
distance learning, to connect locals with their
counterparts elsewhere, social media is breathing new
life into the region, a trend some believe could catapult
a parched, politically troubled area into a new
economic frontier.”
(www.allafrica.com)

9. Government and Media
 Under the Kibaki government in Kenya, the media has
demonstrated greater editorial independence as of late than
it has in previous years, and the number of press freedom
abuses has declined. Still, some media policies and
incidents continue to inhibit press freedom in Kenya. In 2003
the government invoked a restrictive constitutional provision
on court coverage to intimidate journalists reporting on a
possible political murder. In March 2006, hooded policemen
raided the offices of The Standard newspaper and Kenya
Television Network, claiming concerns about internal
security.

10. Mass Media Schools
 East African School of Journalism
 Foundation College of Professional Studies
 East African School of Media Studies
 Institute of Media & Technology
 Leaders Institute of Journalism & Legal Studies
 Star Media Institute
 Top Media Institute
 Andrew Crawford Media Training School
 Kenya Institute of Media and Technology
 East African Media Institute
 Justin Mayen St. Ann's College

11. Bibliography
 www.abyznewslink.com
 www.mediacouncil.org/no/kenya
 www.nationmedia.com
 www.bizcommunity.com
 www.article19.org
 Kenya.used.gov
 www.sagepub.org