Kenya
2.4

Broadcasting legislation has been passed and is implemented that provides for a conducive environment for public,
commercial and community broadcasting.

The Ministry of Information is responsible for awarding permits for
broadcasting while the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK)
allocates the frequencies. The airwaves were liberalised in the early
1990’s, but there is no broadcasting legislation or regulatory system
in place. The awarding of permits and frequencies is carried out on
an ad-hoc basis with no clear pattern and very selectively.
SCORES:
Individual scores:

1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1

Average score:

1.0

2.5

Community broadcasting enjoys special promotion given its
potential to broaden access by poor and rural communities.

ANALYSIS:
The very first community radio in Africa was established in Kenya
- in Homa Bay in 1982. Two years later it was de-registered. The old
and new government alike regard community broadcasting as “suspicious” and do not want to accept the right of communities to run
their own radio stations without interference. There is only one station on air at the moment and efforts by UNESCO to establish more
failed. On the other hand, the minister of information is presently
investing in a media centre with print and radio facilities in his own
constituency.

12

African Media Barometer - Kenya 2005

Select target paragraph3