History of Community Broadcasting in Kenya

Broadcasting has been in Kenya for many years. It was discovered that radio was and it still is the widest and most effective communication media.

Initially in Kenya and in most other countries, the National Broadcasters were dominant voice and enjoyed monopoly status. They were used to publicize government agenda, some of which was development while the other was propaganda. In Kenya Voice of Kenya (Current Kenya Broadcasting Corporation-KBC) occupied that space.

In the advent of liberalization, other broadcasters came to the scene to offer alternative views and opinions other than those of the government. However, the licensing regime remained in the relevant ministry, who issued Broadcasting Permits while broadcasters were referred to Communication Authority of Kenya-CA (former CCK) for frequency spectrum.

In that period, UNESCO started a worldwide promotion of democracy focused on the marginalized community empowerment. In 1982, UNESCO sponsored the first Community Radio in the world, in Homa Bay Kenya. The station broadcast in Luo Language and was very popular among the community. They were able to interactively discuss their development issues and resolve the evolving challenges.

However, this noble and pioneering initiative for Kenya did not last long. The Homa Bay station was closed in 1984, because the authorities thought it was promoting anti-government agenda!  Kenya lost the opportunity to lead the world in this new broadcasting  frontier!

However, all was not lost because the Kenya Information and Communication Amendment Acts (KICA) of 2009 and 2013 formalized broadcasting as a licensable area and  CA was given the sole mandate of licensing the sector. It (CA) became one-stop-shop for both broadcasting licensing and frequency spectrum assignment

One of the Broadcasting Categories in the Act include Community Broadcasting. Many Community Radio Stations were established across Kenya, mainly owned by Communities, religious institutions, universities and other  by private volunteers. These radio stations provided an alternative to the existing commercial radio stations whose coverage and quality of was poor. Furthermore, this form of broadcasting is very effective because other than Kiswahili, they broadcast in local languages which are well received and understood by the communities. The Community Radio has played a critical and catalytic role in highlighting development issues such as health, education, peaceful co-existence of communities, prevention of GBV and FGM in their areas of operation

However, the Community Radios faced several challenges ranging from sustainability to political and operation interferences. Therefore in 2018, the Association of Kenya Community Media (AKCMO) was registered to address the challenges and foster faster development in their areas of operation.

Since its formation, AKCMO has established a working relationship with CA and MCK benefiting from regulatory advice and accreditation of its journalist among other capacity benefits. AKCMO recently  held a consultative forum  with CA  with a view to understanding the envisaged introduction of Digital Audio Broadcasting to the current FM broadcasting regime addressing issues such as cost of Digital Receivers. AKCMO also works with other local and international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, IEBC and others. Through AKCMO lobbying, GAA allowed community radios to bid for Regional Broadcasting for government  advertisements. However, reports we are receiving from our stations, is that very few, if any of these government jobs are available. Most of these adverts are carried by mainstream media and this needs to change,

AKCMO appreciates the assistance offered by MCK for capacity building and easy  accreditation of our journalists many of whom come from the community and  are not formally trained. We request the Kenya Government to mainstream community radios in its budgetary allocation so that this important media is sustained for the benefit of Kenyans,

In South Africa, there exists an organization called Media Development & Diversity Agency whose main purpose is to support the development of a vibrant, innovative, sustainable and people-centered community media sector through resourcing, knowledge-based research and capacity building, in order to give a voice to historically disadvantaged communities. Community Radios are an important partner in this important  sector and we request the government to accord them the significance they deserve.

This quote is attributed to the late statesman, Nelson Mandela of  South Africa

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart”

Community Radios in Kenya are delivering development messages to the hearts of their Listeners

By: Daniel Waturu

Chair/ AKMO