SECTOR 3

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:

3.9 (2005 = 3.8, 2007 = 3.3, 2009 = 3.3)

3.12 Community broadcasting enjoys special promotion by the government given its potential to broaden
access by communities to the airwaves.
Some effort is made to promote community broadcasting.
Licence fees for this category of broadcasters are KSh15,000 (about US$188)
compared to KSh65,000 (about US$813) paid by commercial broadcasters per
year. But in exchange, they make do with a limited broadcast range. University
radios, which fall under the definition of community radio, are only allowed a 5km
radius reach. University-based stations are also barred from taking advertising,
even when the advertising comes with content provided by other broadcasters.
Many people do not know what community broadcasting is. Stations broadcasting
in local languages often think they are community radios, even if they are
commercially oriented. There is a debate about whether or not this category of
stations should accept advertising. Strictly speaking, Kenya only has about 15
community radio stations, which is a far cry from the scores that pass themselves
off as community stations.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER KENYA 2012

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