In a sweeping regulatory move, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced it will revoke the broadcasting licenses of 42 television stations across the country. The decision, published in a gazette notice dated September 12, is set to take effect within the next seven days.
Citing the Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap. 411), CA Director General David Mugonyi stated that the affected licensees will no longer be authorized to operate once the revocation is complete. All resources held under the licenses will revert to the authority.
Among the notable stations on the list are Metropol TV, Mount Kenya TV, Kingdom Ambassadors TV, and Tourism and Wildlife TV, also known as Safari Channel.
Why Licenses Are Being Revoked
The CA has broad powers to shut down TV stations for several reasons, including:
- Broadcasting inappropriate or prohibited content
- Failure to establish necessary broadcasting infrastructure
- Non-payment of license fees
These measures are designed to enforce compliance with national regulations, maintain broadcasting standards, and ensure all stations operate within Kenya’s legal framework.
A Pattern of Enforcement
This isn’t the first time Kenyan authorities have taken strong action against media outlets. Just three months ago, the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) warned 23 television stations—including the popular Kameme TV—that they risked closure for violating betting advertisement regulations.
On May 5, BCLB Director Peter Mbugi called out several broadcasters for continuing to air betting content with payment prompts, despite a prior directive suspending such advertisements.
More recently, the BCLB issued a statement noting that “several media outlets continue to run unauthorized betting promotions,” even after a announced 30-day suspension of betting ads.
What Happens Next?
With the seven-day notice period now underway, the affected stations have a narrow window to appeal or rectify the issues leading to the revocation. Failure to do so will result in a complete shutdown of their broadcasting services.
The CA’s move has sparked concerns about media freedom and access to information, though the authority insists the action is necessary to uphold the law and protect consumers.
The coming days will be critical for the listed broadcasters as they seek to avoid going off the air for good.
