Jacktone Lawi

Massive job losses loom large after Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) cracked the whip on 128 FM broadcasting stations. 

Through a notice, CA announced it will revoke, cancel or reject licences for FM broadcasting frequencies of the local broadcasters.

In the statement, dated December 22, CA director general Ezra Chiloba said the move was arrived at following failure by the broadcasters to comply with the licence offer within the offer period as prescribed by the authority.

“The Authority wishes to draw the attention of the listed broadcasters, applicants of broadcasting licences and the general public to provisions of Clause 46C and the Fifth Schedule of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 (KICA CAP411A), that provides for a transition period for broadcasting permits granted by the government to the licensing regime administered by the authority,” the notice reads in part. 

The telecoms services sector regulator said in that failure to comply with licensing requirements for the next 30 days will be deemed that the current owners of the frequencies don’t want to retain them.

From the 128 CA has already started the revocation of 18 FM radios that are operating and are yet to apply for broadcasting licenses. 

The Authority has further initiated a rejection of 24 FM radio license applications for commercial and community broadcasting services. 

The statement further states that the regulator is also planning to cancel 60 applicants for radio broadcasting licenses because they have not complied with the license offer conditions with the licence offer period as prescribed by the watchdog a list that includes some of the national radio stations. 

Chiloba said the regulator has already communicated to the respective media firms in writing informing them of the 30-day ultimatum.