BLOW to Ngilu’s campaign as gov’t threatens to shuts down her radio

 The government has threatened to cancel 60 radio frequencies for failure to comply with their license offer terms.

Among them is a popular Kamba radio station Mbaitu FM which is owned by Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on Wednesday published a notice listing stations that risk being shut for non- compliance.

CA director general Ezra Chiloba said the authority had already begun the revocation process, a move that risks having tens of the FM stations shut even as the country gears towards the next general elections.

Mrs Ngilu who is eying a second stab on the Kitui governorship has been using the station for her campaigns.

“Take notice that the Authority has commenced regulatory actions against the following listed broadcasters and applicants of broadcasting service provisioning licenses for failure to comply with the relevant requirements as provided for in the Act,” Chiloba said.

Compliance

CA warned that "failure by the stations to comply within 30 days will imply unwillingness by the affected parties to offer broadcasting services and thus the agency will shut down assigned frequencies".  

Mbaitu FM registered under the Eastern Broadcasting Cooperation Limited is domiciled in Nairobi but has listenership majorly in South Eastern Kenya Counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni.

Other stations affected by the CAK purge in the region are the Catholic Diocese of Kitui’s Thome FM and Thokoa FM, reportedly owned by a businessman from Mwingi West, Kitui County. The licences of the two local stations have been revoked. 

CA is the government agency tasked with managing the country’s frequency space.    

STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT, EDITED By MUSYOKA NGUI