Kenya has more than ninety FM radio stations, about fifteen television stations, and probably more than a hundred newspapers and magazines, as well as online media sources.
Most of Kenya's media publishes or broadcasts in the English language, although there are some Swahili publications and radio broadcasts in Swahili or other regionally-based languages. Broadcasting in English and Swahili, the government-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, and the privately-owned Royal Media Services, are the only broadcasters with nationwide coverage, both broadcasting in English and Swahili, as well as in other vernacular languages.
Kenyan television stations with the most coverage include Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), NTV by Nation Media Group, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Citizen TV, and K24 Kenya, each of which carries news programming. Recently, new stations have been airing movies, music, and other television programming.
Popular radio stations include KBC Radio, Citizen FM, Kiss FM, Classic FM, Capital FM, Easy FM, Metro FM, X-FM, and Homeboyz Radio, as well as several private radio stations broadcasting in local vernacular languages. Most of the radio stations in Kenya are owned by just a few media companies, which include Nation Media Group, Standard Media Group, Radio Africa Group, Royal Media Service, and MediaMax Communication Group.
More than a hundred applications are awaiting approval by the Communication Commission of Kenya, which is the regulatory body for broadcasting, multimedia, telecommunications, electronic commerce, postal and courier services.
Daily newspapers in Kenya include the Daily Nation and The Standard, both independent publications, as well as X News and the People Daily, which are free newspapers, and a couple of specialized daily newspapers, Business Daily and The Star. The East African is a weekly newspaper published in Nairobi.
Kenya also has monthly and bi-monthly magazines, some of which are industry-specific, while others cover a range of topics that include business, entertainment, lifestyles, media, and politics. Many of the country's newspapers are distributed with a magazine.
Readers within Kenya and its diaspora may also view or participate in several online media sites carrying news, political opinion, and other information, as well as news aggregate sites and web portals. Internet access in Kenya is high, as compared with other African countries, although mobile devices are the most common means of access.
Freedom of the press has improved as compared to twenty or so years ago, but the country does assert some controls over the press. Prior to publication, a newspaper has to post a bond, which some consider prohibitive, and to register afterward. Kenyan law enforcement authorities have been known to raid newspaper offices on the basis of concerns over internal security, recently using concerns over terrorism to restrict freedom of information. Of course, such things occur in other countries as well, including the United States.
Recommended Resources
Published in Nairobi, Kenya, the print magazine carries business coverage from Kenya, the surrounding region, and all of Africa. Its web edition publishes a selection of stories from the print edition, as well as web-only content. Its mission, staff, and advertising information are published, including selected stories relating to the economy, business and corporate news, lifestyle issues, market analysis, and opinion columns. Advertising opportunities are included.
http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/
Published in Nairobi, Kenya, the daily newspaper is distributed throughout Kenya, offering local, county-wide, national, and world news coverage, sports stories, business and economic reports, lifestyle features, and opinion columns. Other features include blogs, a photo gallery, videos, and contact information. Subscriptions to the Daily Nation as well as its other publications, Business Daily, Taifa LEO, and The East African may be done through the site.
http://www.nation.co.ke/
Founded in 2010, the independent news network broadcasts throughout Kenya, offering live video streaming, audio packages, and searchable archives of news features and background information, which is updated throughout the day. Other resources available on its site includes local, Africa, and world news, news of the Kenyan diaspora, and business and economic news, as well as a blog and health features.
https://www.kdrtv.com/
The daily newspaper offers local, county, national, and international news reports referencing Kenya, sports stories, and gossip columns relating to Kenya and Kenyans abroad, as well as letters to the editor, editorials, romance and relationship columns, an advice column, jokes, and political news and events. Other features include job vacancies, advertisements, and contact information.
http://www.kenyan-post.com/
The online news publication has been online since 2002, offering news reports and political analysis from Kenya, the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa. Modeled on a newspaper format, the site provides coverage of the country and its major cities, including its capital city, international news, business and finance topics, and other features. Kenya Star readers are invited to comment on individual stories.
http://www.kenyastar.com/
Offering news from Kenya and its capital city, Nairobi, as well as throughout Africa and the world, the site posts news stories, political events, and analysis, as well as introductions and specific coverage of specific people within the government, justice issues, global issues, and opinion columns. Other resources include live television streaming, photographs, video, and local advertising.
https://www.kenya-today.com/
Owned and operated by Nation Media Group Limited, headquartered in Nairobi, the Kenyan television station broadcasts national and world news, business news, sports stories, political analysis and events, and other features, which are highlighted here, along with its regularly scheduled shows, schedules, and contacts, as well as archived video and live streaming television.
http://ntv.nation.co.ke/
Beginning operations as the Nairobi Star in 2007, the daily newspaper rebranded as The Star in 2009 and is still headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. Its website publishes the latest news, including off-beat stories, pictorials, and world reports, along with business and economic commentary and development news, sports stories, opinion columns, and other reports, along with its weekend features, video, and photos.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/
