SECTOR 3 is in use. An additional obstacle is that broadcasters are not allowed to replicate their frequencies nationally and instead they are confined to specific geographical distances. Faced with the difficulties, newcomers into the broadcasting industry are often forced to buy existing frequencies and then come to the CCK for change of ownership. The Standard was forced to buy Radio Simba to be able to have a frequency. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 1.5 (2005 = 1.7, 2007 = 1.6, 2009 = 2.1) 3.4 The state/public broadcaster is accountable to the public through a board representative of society at large and selected in an independent, open and transparent manner. Kenya’s Minister of Information and Communications appoints the board of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. The process is not open and the public is not involved. The board is regularly subjected to interference from public officials and is often powerless. At least one general manager of the KBC was dismissed a few years ago for trying to open up the airwaves and run a more independent broadcasting service. The dismissal followed complaints from ministers, who were unhappy with the changes. In February 2012, workers of the KBC went on strike over low pay and other grievances. The board appeared unable to deal with the situation. Calm only returned after a parliamentary committee intervened. In March 2012, a parliamentary committee was investigating the operations of the KBC. 44 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER KENYA 2012