The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has announced plans to revoke the licenses of 42 television stations operating across the country.
In a Gazette notice dated September 12, the CA Director General, David Mugonyi, explained that the move is being undertaken in line with the Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap. 411). According to the notice, the revocation process will be carried out within the next seven days.
Some well-known television stations on the list include Metropol TV, Mount Kenya TV, Kingdom Ambassadors TV, and Tourism and Wildlife TV (popularly known as Safari Channel), among others.
Mugonyi noted that once a license is revoked, the affected broadcaster will no longer be allowed to operate in the country. In addition, all resources or privileges granted under the cancelled license will automatically revert to the Communications Authority.
“Notice is given pursuant to the provisions of the Kenya Information and Communications Act (Cap. 411) that the Communications Authority of Kenya shall revoke the postal licences of the following service providers within seven (7) days from the date of this Gazette Notice,” Mugonyi stated in the circular.
He further emphasized that after revocation, no licensee will be permitted to provide the services for which they were initially approved.
The authority has powers to shut down a television station for several reasons, particularly when a broadcaster is found violating regulatory standards or failing to meet legal requirements.
Common reasons include airing content that goes against broadcasting rules, failing to set up the necessary infrastructure for transmission, or failing to pay the required license fees on time.
According to CA, such actions are necessary to enforce discipline in the broadcasting sector, protect viewers from harmful or unregulated content, and ensure that all broadcasters operate within the country’s legal framework.
This latest announcement comes only three months after the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) raised similar concerns about television stations violating advertising rules.
On May 5, BCLB Director Peter Mbugi revealed that 23 TV stations, among them Kameme TV, were in danger of closure for continuing to air betting advertisements that included payment prompts.
The regulator had earlier directed a suspension of such adverts, but several media houses ignored the order and went ahead to broadcast the betting promotions.
“Following the Board’s recent press statement announcing a 30-day suspension of betting advertisements, it has come to our attention that several media outlets continue to run unauthorised betting promotions,” BCLB said at the time.
The government has in recent months tightened regulations in the broadcasting industry, a move seen as an effort to ensure compliance, protect the public, and uphold professional standards among Kenyan media houses.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
