The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has revoked the licenses of 426 media and telecommunications service providers, including popular stations Kiss TV and Njata TV, as part of a regulatory crackdown on industry compliance.
In a gazette notice dated October 11, the CA published the names of the affected companies, which include 13 commercial radio stations, 2 community radios, 9 free-to-air television channels, 1 self-provisioning TV station, and 1 bulk SMS service provider.
Among the notable brands impacted are Switch TV, Kwese TV, Utugi TV, and Njata FM.
The CA notice stated that the listed companies failed to meet the standards required under the Kenya Information and Communications Act, and their licenses were revoked following a seven-day compliance window.
David Mugonyi, CA’s Director General and CEO, explained that the companies affected by the revocation would lose any rights to operate within the industry.
“Any resources held under these licenses shall revert to the Authority upon revocation,” the notice emphasized.
Additionally, licenses for 18 network facility providers, 113 application service providers, and 269 content service providers were also rescinded.
In April, the CA similarly took action against 58 television stations and several courier companies over compliance issues, highlighting the Authority’s commitment to enforcing broadcasting standards across the sector.
With the revocation, affected service providers must cease all operations immediately, marking a significant shift in Kenya’s media landscape as the CA continues to uphold regulatory standards.
