Map of Nairobi 2 About the Embassy 3

KBC Channel One (www.kbc.co.ke) is a free to air state-owned TV station that broadcasts news, local and international programs to almost all parts of Kenya. It has both the English and Swahili broadcasts. KBC is the only TV station with the largest geographical reach in Kenya. It is currently grappling with the transition to digital broadcasting. In 1989, the Kenya Parliament voted to change its name from the colonial Voice of Kenya to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation. It started operations in 1928 when Kenya was a British Colony.

KBC has always acted as the government mouthpiece especially during the former President Moi’s regime when every bulletin begun with positive news about the presidency. It is funded partly by advertising revenue and a budgetary allocation from the government, but has always struggled to maintain sound financial stability. Even though the stations and the Media Council of Kenya may not have viewership numbers, some research indicate that KBC is the third most watched station in Kenya with nearly 7 million viewers.

KBC became the first Kenyan station to interview a sitting U.S President when they aired a recorded interview of President Barack Obama in 2008.

It broadcasts daily bulletins at 1 p.m., 7 p.m. (Swahili) and 9 p.m. (English).

Key anchors include; Catherine Achieng’a and Bill Odidi

Cell: 0722 720898

Branding itself as the “authoritative and independent news channel”, KTN (www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/live) was the first free to view privately owned TV station to be launched in Kenya when it started operations in 1990. At its launch, it introduced to Kenya relays of CNN programming re-transmission. The TV station—headquartered at the Standard Group Centre on Mombasa road, Nairobi-- is owned by The Standard Group Ltd, the publisher of The Standard, Kenya’s oldest newspaper. It introduced independent news on TV and live TV interviewing as it maintained the top spot as the most watched TV station in the country.

KTN has been credited with revolutionizing broadcast media in Kenya. Over the years KTN has been known for its unique way of exposing scandals and corruption in government and in the private sector. Through hard hitting investigative stories, KTN has exposed drug cartels in Kenya. Many African countries studied KTN’s influence and success during the early 2000 and implemented the KTN model back home. Several radio stations in Kenya and in Africa also adopted the hard-hitting style of reporting by KTN. It went off-air for nearly a week in March 2, 2006 when hired thugs backed by foreign mercenaries raided the Standard Group’s offices and assaulted staff on duty before destroying broadcasting equipment in what the management claimed was an attempt to muzzle the Standard Group.

However in the past 5 years Citizen TV has emerged as the most watched TV station after poaching some of the senior news reporters and anchors from KTN. But KTN hit back and employed some key staff from other stations in 2012 as it struggled to resuscitate its brand. Various researches indicate that KTN commands close to 18 million viewers across the country. It broadcasts live on the internet and on YouTube.

It relays news bulletins at 1PM, 7PM (Swahili) and 9PM (English).

Key anchors and news reporters include; Linda Oguttu, Anne Kiguta, Njoroge Mwaura, Ahmed Dharwesh, Louis Otieno, Mohammed Ali, Dennis Onsarigo, John-Allan Namu. CNN’s Zain Verjee was an anchor at KTN between 2001 and 2003.

sshollei@standardmedia.co.ke

Cell: 0720423849

jageyo@standardmedia.co.ke
NTV

NTV (www.ntv.co.ke ) is a television broadcast channel owned by the Nation Media Group (NMG)-- the dominant media group in east Africa (which in turn is owned in part by His Highness the Aga Khan). NMG are the publishers of largest circulating newspaper—the Daily Nation It broadcasts in more than 70 per cent of Kenyan market and 60 per cent of the market in Uganda. NTV targets a middle class and up market demographic, and is widely considered one of the most reliable and neutral television stations in Kenya. NTV targets an estimated 15 million viewers aged between 8 to 60 years.

The station was launched in 1999 as Nation TV but changed its name to NTV in 2005. It partners with the BBC TV to re-transmit the BBC’s Swahili and English news bulletins.

NTV runs a major news bulletin at 7PM (Swahili) and 9PM (English). It also carries a brief bulletin at 1PM in English.

It is regarded as independent news station which seldom leaned towards any side. It broadcasts live on the internet and on YouTube.

Key anchors and reporters include; Martin Masai, Smriti Vidyarthi, Walace Kantai, Nimrod Taabu, Jamila Mohammed, Linus Kaikai,

Cell: 0722-775-660; Landline direct line 020 2242322

lgitahi@ke.nationmedia.com

Group Editorial Director: Joseph Odindo

Cell - 0722-768-229; direct landline: 020 221-4789

jodindo@ke.nationmedia.com

Managing Editor: Linus Kaikai

lkaikai@ke.nationmedia.com

Citizen TV (www.citizentv.co.ke) is Kenya’s largest private broadcaster in terms of audience reach and its owned by Royal Media Services (RMS), a company associated with media mogul S.K. Macharia. The company also operates several vernacular radio stations.

Citizen TV runs daily news bulletin at 1PM, 7PM (Swahili) and 9PM (English). It also runs a political talk show every Sunday at 9PM and another one “Cheche’ every Wednesday from 8AM-10AM.

Citizen TV also remains the leading television station in Kenya in terms of commercial advertisements. However it has been accused by other TV stations and regulator—the Communications Commission of Kenya—of allocating itself or grabbing TV and Radio frequencies which enabled Citizen TV extend its reach across the country illegally. The regulator shut down 17 transmission stations belonging to RMS On February 2, 2013 effectively crippling the operations of Citizen TV broadcast frequencies in Migori, Makueni, Narok, Malindi and Taveta, Sotik and Embu and Nakuru.

In the March 2013 Presidential election, Citizen TV owner S.K Macharia threw his weight behind Prime Minister Raila Odinga who ended up losing the election. The station however carried out fair coverage for all the contesting candidates.

It was launched 1998, but remained lowly until its re-launched in 2006, when it started aggressive news coverage and took keen interest in airing local programmes which endeared it to many viewers. It also leaned towards Kibaki’s government since 2002 during which period it flourished from increased advertising revenue and favorable ratings by research firms.

Key anchors include; Swaleh Mdoe, Lilian Muli, Katherine Kasavuli

Hierarchy__Chairman-Radio_Africa'>Hierarchy__Chairman_and_owner:_Chris_Kirubi'>Hierarchy

Founder chairman: Samuel K.Macharia

Cell: 0722-516-104; Landline direct line – 0719-060-204

Cell: 0722-518-689

K24 (www.k24.co.ke) is owned by Mediamax—a company associated with the family of President Uhuru Kenyatta. The Company also publishes The People newspapers. It started broadcasts in November 2007 with the slogan "All Kenyan, all the time". T carries news broadcasts on top of every hour throughout the day but has major news wrap at 7PM (Swahili) and at 9PM (English).

Its lead anchor and reporter then included former CNN reporter Jeff Koinange, who has since left the broadcaster. The TV channel was originally owned by media personality Rose Kimotho (who also launched Kameme FM), before Mediamax Group acquired it in October 2009. The TV channel has since started an aggressive poaching taking key anchors and reporters from rival stations. Reporters and anchors who have since jumped ship to K24 include Isabella Kituri, Anne Ngugi and Purity Mwambia (all from KTN Swahili), Jimmi Gathu, Tom Mboya and Belinda Obura (All from Citizen TV).

Hierarchy

Hierarchy

Executive director: Granton Samboja

granton.samboja@mediamax.co.ke

Cell: 0722 179639

Managing Editor: Anderson Waweru

anderson.waweru@mediamax.co.ke

Cell: 0722 758619
Radio stations

Most major media outlets owning newspapers and TV stations also operate radio stations. Royal Media Services (RMS)—the operators of Citizen TV, owns the highest number of FM frequencies. It operates 11 radio stations—most of them broadcasting in various vernacular languages. Its flagship radio station is Radio Citizen. RMS is owned by businessman and media tycoon Samuel K. Macharia who had several run-ins with President Moi’s regime when he attempted to set up his media empire in the early 2000s. He had several of his media outlets denied licenses or shut down, but his media empire flourished under President Kibaki’s government.

Radio Citizen is a sister station of Citizen TV. It beams its programs through on several frequencies across the country. It rivals KBC radio as the most geographically spread radio in Kenya as it boast the greatest number of transmission sites across Kenya. It broadcasts in Swahili and English and airs hourly news programs. The station also has a rich menu of talk-show and features. It claims to target the “common man” in its programming.

Research firms estimate that Radio Citizen control listenership in rural areas, however there are no absolute numbers of listeners that tune to the two stations.

The Station runs hourly news briefs.

Key presenters include Mohammed Juma Njuguna

Hierarchy

Founder chairman: Samuel K. Macharia

Cell: 0722-516-104; Landline direct line – 0719-060-204

Cell: 0722-518-689

98.4 Capital FM broadcasting under the banner “The Best Mix of Music” was the second modern FM station to be launched in 1996 after KBC launched its entertainment radio 101.9 Metro FM following the liberation of the airwaves by the government allowing private entrepreneurs to own radio and TV stations. It easily established itself as the station of choice for the urban middle- and upper classes with its rich style of music and hourly news beats. Capital FM’s early success is attributed to Linda Hold—a British entrepreneur who was the wife to Bob Holt the Managing Director of KTN in the late 1990s. It broadcasts to Nairobi, Western Kenya and Mombasa. Due to its professionalism and maturity in the market, Capital FM has managed to command a larger advertising revenue share compared to other radio stations. It natured most of the radio presenters and TV anchors in Kenya. CNN’s Zain Verjee was a presenter at Capital FM between 2001 and 2003.

The station owned by businessman Chris Kirubi has been based at 19^th Floor of Lonrho House since its inception.

The Station runs hourly news briefs.

Key presenters include Maqbul and Cess Mutungi.
Hierarchy

Chairman and owner: Chris Kirubi

Cell: 0722520889

Cell: 0722525664

Kiss 100 and Classic 105 are the two most listened to infotainment radio stations in Nairobi. They are part of the five radio stations operated by Radio Africa Group. Radio Africa is a privately owned media group—which also publishes The Star newspaper and runs Kiss TV and five other radio stations in Kenya. It also has media interests in Uganda wher it runs a radio station. The Group is owned and managed by a Briton William Pike and Ghanaian/Kenyan Patrick Quarcoo. Radio Africa’s media outlets have a strong commercial focus and have overtaken some of the more established stations in revenue.

Kiss 100 launched in 2001 broadcasts major urban areas including Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Nakuru. Radio Africa Group says it positioned Kiss 100 as a provocative and risqué tone station that raises eyebrows and this was intended at driving its ratings ahead of other stations.

Classic 105 on the other hand started broadcasts in 2005 but was quickly positioned as the most listened to infotainment radio station in urban areas especially in Nairobi due to its salacious content. Presenter Maina Kageni drives up the stations listeners during breakfast show with his detailed discussion of social and family issues. Most callers are not afraid to discuss intimate details on air as Kageni and his co-presenter Daniel Ndambuki (Mwalimu King’ang’i) take turns to throw bunter at each other.

Research firms estimate that Kiss 100 and Classic 105 control listenership in urban areas, however there are no absolute numbers of listeners that tune to the two stations.

The Stations runs hourly news briefs.

Key presenters include Caroline Mutoko (Kiss 100) and Maina Kageni, Daniel Ndambuki aka Mwalimu King’ang’I aka Churchill (Classic 105).

Hierarchy

Chairman-Radio Africa: Kiprono Kittony

Cell: 0722-885-599; roaming number: 0722-524-720

Is a vernacular radio station broadcasting in Kikuyu ethnic language. It airs its programmes in Nairobi and central Kenya—dominated by the Kikuyu people. It is the pioneer vernacular station in Kenya launched in early 2000s following the liberation of the airwaves. It was first run by media personality Rose Kimotho before it was bought out by Mediamax—a company associated with President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s family. The media company also publishes the People Daily.

The Station runs hourly news briefs.
Hierarchy

Executive director: Granton Samboja

granton.samboja@mediamax.co.ke

Cell: 0722 179639

Managing Editor: Anderson Waweru

anderson.waweru@mediamax.co.ke

Cell: 0722 758619

Background information about Kenyan media

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  The Standard Group (includes the Standard newspaper, the Kenya Television Network/KTN, and Radio Maisha)
  
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  The Nation Media Group (includes The EastAfrican, Daily Nation, Business Daily Africa, Daily Monitor, The Citizen, and others papers circulated in Uganda and Tanzania; and Nation TV/NTV)
  
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  Royal Media Services (includes Citizen TV and 14 radio stations)
  
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  State-run Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC Channel 1 and KBC radio stations)
  
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  The Capital Group (runs Capital FM and Capital TV) and is our sole partner station for promoting Washington Mandela Fellowship and YALI Network activities. 
  
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  The Media Max Network (People Daily, K24 TV and Kameme FM)
  
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  The Radio Africa Group (KISS FM, Classic 105, Radio Jambo, and various other commercial stations; Kiss TV; and The Star)
  
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  The Kass Media Group (Kass FM, Kass TV and Kass Weekly)