Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Last updated

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
TypeTerrestrial television and radio broadcast network
Country
Kenya
AvailabilityKenya
Founded1928;97 years ago (1928); as East Africa Broadcasting Corporation
by Colonial administration of British Kenya
  • 4.26%
    (TV by viewership)
  • <2%
    (Radio by audience) [1]
HeadquartersKenya Broadcasting Corporation, Harry Thuku Road, Nairobi
Broadcast area
Kenya
Owner Government of Kenya
Launch date
1928 (radio)
1962 (television)
Official website
www.kbc.co.ke

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) is the state-run media organisation of Kenya. [2] It broadcasts in English and Swahili, as well as in most local languages of Kenya.

Contents

The corporation was launched as a radio service in 1928 when Kenya was a British colony, making it the first radio station in Kenya. It was initially called the East African Broadcasting Corporation (EABC), and relayed BBC News. In 1964, when Kenya became independent, and the corporation's name was changed to Voice of Kenya. In 1989, the Kenyan parliament changed the name to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

During the rule of president Daniel arap Moi, KBC became the mouthpiece of the government, but under president Mwai Kibaki, KBC took a more objective approach, and helped start the career of some notable journalists, especially before the liberalization of the airwaves in Kenya. After many decades of dominance in the Kenyan market, KBC has been overtaken in programming content and ratings, especially with the advent of private TV stations and digital satellite television in the early 2000s.

History of KBC

Radio stations

StationLanguageLaunch dateWebsite
KBC English Service English 1928 kbcenglish.co.ke Archived 11 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine
KBC Western Service Pokot and Teso 1952
Radio Taifa Swahili 1953
KBC Eastern Service Turkana, Rendille, Burji, and Borana 1972
Coro FM Kikuyu 2000 corofm.co.ke Archived 5 January 2019 at the Wayback Machine
Pwani FM Swahili for the Coastal region2001 pwanifm.co.ke [ permanent dead link ]
Nosim FM Maasai 2011
Minto FM Kisii 2011
Kitwek FM Kalenjin 2011
Mwago FM Meru 2011
Mayienga FM Luo 2011
Mwatu FM Kamba 2012
Ingo FM Luhya 2012
Iftiin FM Somali iftiinfm.co.ke Archived 17 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine
Bula cadaan FM Somali

References

  1. Kabuacha, Frankline (26 April 2022). "Top TV and Radio Stations in Kenya – Q1 2022". GeoPoll. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  2. "CAP. 221". kenyalaw.org. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  3. "World Communications" (PDF). UNESCO. 1975. p. 71. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  4. "New channel for Kenya", Africa Film & TV Magazine, nº. 27, November 2000-January 2001
  5. "Pwani FM Live- Listen Online Here | My Radio". Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2021.