Kenya's comms regulator deplatforms dozens of TV stations

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), continuing its crackdown on broadcasting services, has ordered the closure of more than 58 television stations and at least 6 courier companies serving the East African country. 

Per a few related reports on the development, 58 of the affected platforms are category A commercial televisions. 9 other media houses that fall into the class have reportedly filed for a sell-off of their local operating licenses. 

Some of the channels affected in the mass shutdown are Pwani TV, Mt.Kenya TV, Christian Faith TV, Kwese Free Sport, Harvest Family TV, Daystar TV, and Mitume TV. Yet-unaffected stations in the space might choose to abandon ship before getting caught in the sweep. 

Certificates of the postal courier operators involved, which fall under Category B broadcasters, have been revoked by the regulator. They include Buscar East Africa Limited, Wilift Transport Limited, Superwave Security E.A, Baluzis Delivery Limited Modest Collections, and Shopn Shopn Online store.

 “The Communications Authority of Kenya shall revoke the licenses of the following service providers/operators within seven (7) days from April 12, 2024. Any resources held under any of these licenses shall revert to the authority upon revocation,” David Mugonyi, CA's director general stated. 

The trend started in December 2017, when the Kenyan government unprecedentedly deplatformed three of the country's largest television stations, including KTN, the first independent station in Kenya, Citizen Television, and NTV. 

Although those actions were election-related, the continued censorship has more to do with the government's cold war with digital advertising than political interests. The local media landscape has become quite competitive over the last few years, giving way to regulatory violations and breaches of broadcasting standards. 

In a March 9 guideline released to actors in the space, not excluding radio stations, the communications authority prohibited the use of advertisements with "news flash" tags, breaking news, and violence-depicting animations, in a bid to protect viewers, especially minors.