Association of Kenya Community Media Operators (AKCMO) was founded by a voluntary group of individuals, media practitioners, NGOs, and community media groups with an interest in development communications and promotion of community media in Kenya.
The Association of Kenya Community Media Operators (AKCMO) was established to bring together all community/small radio stations registered in Kenya and licensed by Communications Authority (CA), who is the broadcast regulator in the country.
Radio remains the strongest tool that influences minds of people and continues to draw different and diverse opinions, suggestions while creating debates for decisions based on interpretations, tastes and aspirations. Media has constantly shaped the community agenda and it is the most effective platform to bring desired change in any society.
The Association of Kenya Community Media Operators (AKCMO) saw a huge gap left behind by the mainstream media and the idea to bring all these grassroots radio stations under one roof, aims to develop a significant position and influence and amplify voices of grassroots populations who make the bulk of the Kenyan population.
This media consortium is to fill the existing gap between policy makers and grassroots population, who, without a guess, entirely depend on community radios. These 42 media outlets make up the 34% of the population shown on Kenya Audience Research Foundation (KARF) statistics as others. Grassroots listeners have emotional attachment to these radio stations and thus tuning in to their favorite programs, is a daily ritual.
Established a successful network of local community radio partners: Our community radio organization has built a strong network of local radio stations and partners across the country. This has allowed us to expand our reach and provide a more diverse variety of programming for our listeners.
Developed a comprehensive training program: We have developed a comprehensive training program for our stations, ensuring that all staff members receive the appropriate education and training necessary for their roles. This has enabled us to provide higher quality services to our listeners.
Hosted events and festivals: We have hosted a number of events and festivals over the years, bringing together radio stations and local communities. These events have provided an opportunity for our radio stations to promote their programming and meet their listeners in person.
Developed online platforms: We have developed online platforms such as our website and social media accounts, providing our listeners with an easy way to tune in and interact with our radio stations.
This consortium of radio stations holds together a total of forty two (42) media stations drawn from the Coast to the Lake with a collective audience reach of over 6.4m listeners. These stations have come together under AKCMO to form a national media platform and through diversity, each radio station is unique in its relationship and operations with communities they serve.
The strength of these radio stations lies with their proximity to their listeners while a number of radio stations in Kenya broadcast away from listeners they reach. Listenership of AKCMO radio stations is through voice and presence amongst listeners and this closeness creates an important understanding between the radio and audience. It is important to note that when you are physically present, the impact is far greater than when you are listening to that same person from a distant.
The Association holds a total of 42 Fm stations with different frequencies across the country. This presents the real time required by communicators, policy makers, educators and brand entities for a simultaneous reach.
Each member station of AKCMO lives with the people at the grassroots and this makes each party understand and appreciate the other. When you are a part of the community, living and eating together, when you speak, they will follow you as they are sure you cannot betray their cause. There is mutual trust. It is with this understanding that KCMO is marketing itself for a partnership with your noble organization for mutual benefit.
The stations under AKCMO are;
1. Amani Fm in Tana River County, Coast Region
2. Kwale Ranet in Kwale County, Coast Region
3. Mwanedu Fm in Voi in Taita Taveta County, Coast Region
4. Mang’elete Radio in Makueni County, Eastern Region
5. Mtaani Radio in Nairobi County, Nairobi Region
6. Pamoja Fm in Nairobi County, Nairobi Region
7. Ruben Fm in Nairobi County, Nairobi Region
8. Ghetto Fm in Nairobi County, Nairobi Region
9. Radio Domus in Kajiado County, Rift Valley Region
10. Bus Radio in Kajiado County, Rift Valley Region
11. Sawanga Fm in Laikipia County, North Rift Region
12. Baliti Fm in Isiolo County, North Eastern Region
13. Bulala Fm in Bungoma County, Western Region
14. Radio Rameny in Migori County, Nyanza Region
15. Ekyalo Kiona in Homabay County, Nyanza Region
16. Media Mechanic, a print outlet in Nyeri County, Central Region and others….
It is in this context that these 42 radio stations put themselves together to form one big national radio station, AKCMO, for a common interest and to push and take a share in Kenya’s media industry. The Kenya Audience Research Foundation has consistently left out these many stations by name because their coverage was never as large as that of the mainstream. By coming together, now they have.
From the KARF report of 2017, it is very clear that the biggest share of radio audience is taken up by ‘others’. These are radios not mentioned by name yet they are powerful in dissemination of information, commercials and infomercials. As at now, 42 radio stations form one national radio called AKCMO and three more stations are joining soon; meaning, the audience reach will grow by far. The focus is to bring together all the 42 radio stations not captured under KARF to further strengthen AKCMO as a national voice.
Bringing these radio stations together is a big step in making sure that what KARF normally indicates as others is actually the small radio stations that have now come together as AKCMO.
Where a campaign targets a particular region, AKCMO will involve the radio(s) operating in that particular region. Where a task is national, all radio stations will be on board.
This is another strength these stations boast of across the country. The fact that many policy documents are written and printed in the English language, it is difficult for many illiterate citizens at mashinani to comprehend. The work of the stations is noble as they go a step further in interpreting such policy documents in the local languages for all to understand. The most affected group is the elderly because no emphasis was there on education by then. This use of local dialects endears the stations closer still to their listeners.
Over the years, AKCMO has collaborated with a variety of local and international development partners to build the capacity of community based media and their practitioners in Kenya. The network is governed by a Steering Council comprised of 5 members (4 males and 1 female). Its secretariat based in Nairobi.
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