The Communication Authority of Kenya(CAK) has initiated the cancellation of licence offers to listed 60 radio broadcasters following their failure to comply with licence offer conditions.
Among the most popular radio stations, whose FM Broadcasting Frequencies risk being revoked, include that of Capital FM, owned by the late tycoon Chris Kirubi.
CAK has also warned it will revoke the FM frequencies assigned to KOCH FM, SERIAN FM, RWARE FM and WESTERN FM, whom despite their broadcasting permits having expired, are yet to apply for a renewal as prescribed by law.
The Authority will also revoke the broadcasting licence of 18 broadcasters who have been operating without permits.
Some 24 commercial and community radio broadcasting stations also risk being pulled off the air after failing to clear outstanding regulatory fees among others.
Also affected by the public notice from CAK, signed by its Director General Ezra Chiloba, are 19 applicants who had applied for commercial Free-to-Air Television Broadcasting licences but have failed to comply with licence offer conditions within the timelines required by law.
CAK also plans to cancel the licence offer of three applicants who had applied for subscription broadcasting service licences but failed to comply with the required licence conditions.
“In Accordance with Section 46C of the Kenya Information and Communication Act, 1998, it is illegal to provide any form of broadcasting service in Kenya without a licence issued by the constitution of Kenya. Contravention of this requirement attracts a fine not exceeding KSh 1 Million or imprisonment of a term not exceeding three years or both,” said Chiloba in the public notice dated December 22nd, 2021.
CAK has given a 30 days’ notice to broadcasters affected, after which it will proceed to revoke their assigned FM frequency(s) and shut down the associated broadcasting services.
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