Mass media in Kenya
| Part of a series on the |
| Culture of Kenya |
|---|
 |
|
Cuisine |
Mass media in Kenya includes more than 91 FM stations, more than 64 free to view TV stations, and an unconfirmed number of print newspapers and magazines. Publications mainly use English as their primary language of communication, with some media houses employing Swahili. Vernacular or community-based languages are commonly used in broadcast media; mostly radio.
Kenya's state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts in both English and Swahili plus various vernacular languages. Royal Media services are the largest private national broadcaster with countrywide coverage. It also broadcasts in both English and Swahili plus various vernacular languages. A dozen private radio and television stations have ranges that are limited to the Nairobi area.
Legislation
The media in Kenya is regulated by a statutory body called the Media Council of Kenya. The Media Council of Kenya is an independent national institution established by the Media Act, 2007 as the leading institution in the regulation of media and the conduct and discipline of journalists.[1] It is mandated to register and accredit journalists, register media establishments, handle complaints from the public and create and publish yearly media audit on the Media Freedom in Kenya among other things.[2] During accreditation the journalists agree to adhere to the Code of Conduct and Practice of Journalism in Kenya, which was created by media practitioners and stakeholders with the view of making Journalism in Kenya a more professional and respectable field. The media is also regulated by the Kenya Film Classification Board, a State Corporation under the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) which is mandated by the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222 Laws of Kenya to regulate the creation, possession, broadcasting, exhibition, and distribution of films in Kenya.
Radio and Audio media
KBC, Citizen FM, Kiss FM (pop), Classic FM (classics), Capital FM (rock and pop), Easy FM (R&B), Metro FM (Reggae), Homeboyz Radio (Hip-hop and R&B) are the popular radio stations in Kenya in terms of listeners and coverage. Several established private radio stations broadcast in local vernacular languages, including Kameme FM, Gukena FM, Coro FM and Inooro FM (Kikuyu), Metro East FM (Hindi), Chamgei FM, Kass FM and Rehema Radio (Kalenjin), Lake Victoria (Luo), Mulembe FM (Luhya), Mbaitu FM (Kamba), Star FM (Somali).
However most radio are owned by few media companies. They include
.In addition to Radio, the largest mobile audio media platform in Kenya is Skiza Ads a service run by Safaricom Plc and Adtones ltd. The Skiza Ads Audio platform enables GDPR compliant targeted geolocated interactive advertising and audio messaging to millions of opted in, profiled mobile users using first party data of Safaricom, the largest telecom provider in Kenya.
Television
.More than 100 applications for radio and television licenses are pending before the Communications Authority of Kenya, which is the independent regulatory authority for the communications industry in Kenya. Its role is to license and regulate telecommunications, radio-communication, and postal/courier services in Kenya. Kenya's print media are diverse, ranging from well-respected newspapers and magazines to an expansive tabloid press.
Newspapers
There are two independent national daily newspapers, the
Under the Kibaki government, the media have demonstrated greater editorial independence than in previous years, and the number of
Internet
All mainstream media houses have websites that they use to convey news and other information. The use of online magazines, blogs, and websites for Kenyan news is also on the rise.
Magazine
Kenya has several magazines most of which are published monthly and a few are bi-monthly. The magazines cover a range of topics such as business, lifestyle, politics, entertainment, media, and other societal issues.[4]
All newspapers that are published are usually accomplished with a magazine in every daily edition.
Other notable companies also publish magazines for their client and publicity and advertisement. Some of these companies are Kenya Airways, Mada Hotels and ICPAK.
All other listed companies in the
See also
References
- ^ Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya http://www.mediacouncil.or.ke/en/mck/index.php/publications/codeofconduct
- ^ "Council Functions". Media Council of Kenya. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ a b Kenya country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (June 2007).Lazarus Albert Community radio This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "List of Kenyan Magazines". Retrieved 1 October 2014.
Bibliography
- William A. Hachten (1965). "Press in a One-Party State: Kenya since Independence". Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly. 42. .
- George Githii (1971). "Press Freedom in Kenya". In Olav Stokke (ed.). Reporting Africa. Uppsala: OCLC 878108651.
- Dele Ogunade (1986). "Mass Media Systems of Kenya and Tanzania: a Comparative Analysis". African e-Journals Project.
- A. Owiro-Okoth (1990). "Law and the Mass Media in Kenya". Africa Media Review. 4 (1) – via Michigan State University Libraries, African e-Journals Project.
- Polycarp J. Omolo Ochilo (1993). "Press Freedom and the Role of the Media in Kenya". Africa Media Review. 7 (3) – via Michigan State University Libraries, African e-Journals Project.
- ISBN 9781134261260.
- "Kenya: Directory: Broadcasting and Communications". Africa South of the Sahara 2003. Regional Surveys of the World. ISSN 0065-3896.
- ISBN 978-1-4381-1001-1.
- Winnie V. Mitullah (2012), Freedom of expression in Kenya: Exploring public use of old and new media (PDF), Afrobarometer – via Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Center for Security Studies
- Historical Dictionary of Kenya (3rd ed.). ISBN 978-0-8108-7469-5. (Includes information about radio, periodicals, etc.)
- "Kenya", Freedom of the Press, USA: Freedom House, 2016
- )
