Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

2025-10-28T19:45:22Z

76.69.137.225: /* Radio stations */

{{Short description|State-run media organisation of Kenya}}
{{Multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{lead rewrite|date=September 2020}}}}
{{use Kenyan English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
| logo = [[File:KBC Kenya.PNG|200px]]
| type = Terrestrial television and radio broadcast network
| branding =
| airdate =
| country = Kenya
| available = Kenya
| founded = {{start date and age|1924}}; as East Africa Broadcasting Corporation
| founder = Colonial administration of British Kenya
| headquarters = Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Harry Thuku Road, [[Nairobi]]
| motto =
| market_share = {{bulleted list|4.26% <br /> (TV by viewership)|<2%<br />(Radio by audience)<ref name=":GP1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.geopoll.com/blog/top-tv-radio-stations-kenya-q1-2022/ |last =Kabuacha |first=Frankline |title =Top TV and Radio Stations in Kenya – Q1 2022 |date=26 April 2022 |website= GeoPoll |access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>}}
| license_area =
| broadcast_area = Kenya
| area =
| erp =
| owner = [[Government of Kenya]]
| key_people =
| foundation =
| launch_date = 1924 (radio)<br>1962 (television)
| digital =
| analogue =
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| website = {{URL|https://www.kbc.co.ke/}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Kenya Broadcasting Corporation''' ('''KBC''') is the [[State media|state-run media]] organisation of [[Kenya]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kenyalaw.org/lex/actview.xql?actid=CAP.%20221|title=CAP. 221|website=kenyalaw.org|access-date=2018-02-20}}</ref> It broadcasts in [[English language|English]] and [[Swahili language|Swahili]], as well as in most local languages of Kenya.

The corporation was launched as a radio service in 1924 when Kenya was a [[British Kenya|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 ==
* 1924: English radio broadcasting began. The broadcasts targeted white settlers who monitored news from their home and other parts of the world.
* The first radio broadcasts targeting Africans came during the [[Second World War]] to inform parents and relatives of African soldiers what was happening at the war front.
* 1953: The first broadcast service was created for Africans. African Broadcasting Services carried programmes in [[Swahili language|Kiswahili]], Dholuo, [[Kikuyu people|Kikuyu]], Kinandi, Kiluhya, Kikib and Arabic.
* 1954: Kenya Broadcasting Services was established. Regional stations were set up in [[Mombasa]] (Sauti ya Mvita), [[Nyeri]] (Mount Kenya Station) and [[Kisumu]] (Lake Station).
* 1961: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was formed to take over broadcasting services from the government controlled Kenya Broadcasting Services.
* 1962: Television was introduced in Kenya. The first transmitting station was set on a farm house in [[Limuru]] and the station transmitted to a radius of {{convert|24|km}}.
* 1 July 1964: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was nationalised into Voice of Kenya through an Act of Parliament.
* 1971: Television broadcasts are extended to [[Mombasa]], with its own schedule.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Business/World-Communicatiions-Unesco-1975.pdf |title=World Communications |date=1975 |publisher=[[UNESCO]] |accessdate=19 April 2024 |page=71 }}</ref>
* 1978: Kenya television transitioned to colour.
* 1980: a new television station opened in Mombasa to relay programmes and produce local dramas, music, cultural and other programmes
* 1989: the Voice of Kenya changed back to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation through an Act of Parliament.
* 1989: a contract was signed between KBC and [[Japan]] Telecommunications Engineering consultancy service (JETC) for improvement and expansion of the national medium wave frequency radio broadcasting network.
* 1991: KBC signed a contract with Marubeni Corporation of [[Tokyo]], Japan for upgrading of medium wave transmitting stations and construction of new ones.
* 1993: KBC embarked on a major modernisation project to upgrade its transmitting station, construct new ones and improve on switching and routing network.
* 1996: KBC commissioned Metro FM as a 90% music radio.
* September 2000: KBC commissioned Metro Television as a sports and entertainment channel.<ref>"New channel for Kenya", ''Africa Film & TV Magazine'', nº. 27, November 2000-January 2001</ref>
* December 2000: KBC started Coro FM, transmitting in Kikuyu language to Nairobi and Mount Kenya Region.
* 2001: Pwani FM<ref>{{cite web |url=https://my-radio.co.ke/pwani-fm/ |title=Pwani FM Live- Listen Online Here {{!}} My Radio |access-date=16 August 2021 |archive-date=27 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527122817/http://my-radio.co.ke/pwani-fm |url-status=dead }}</ref> was started to cater to the Coast Region.
* 2009: [[Signet, Kenya|Signet]] subsidiary is first launched.
*2021: KBC TV rebranded. A line-up of changes were unveiled, including a new logo. The station brought on board fresh faces and returned former news presenters including [[Catherine Kasavuli]], Fayyaz Qureishi, Badi Muhsin, and Pauline Sheghu.

==Radio stations==
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse"
|-
| '''Station'''
| '''Language'''
| '''Launch date'''
| '''Website'''
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| KBC English Service
| [[English language|English]]
| 1924
| [http://kbcenglish.co.ke/ kbcenglish.co.ke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811010025/http://kbcenglish.co.ke/ |date=11 August 2020
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| KBC Western Service
| [[Pökoot language|Pokot]] and [[Teso language|Teso]]
| 1952
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Radio Taifa
| [[Swahili language|Swahili]]
| 1953
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| KBC Eastern Service
| [[Turkana language|Turkana]], [[Rendille language|Rendille]], [[Burji language|Burji]], and [[Southern Oromo language|Borana]]
| 1972
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Coro FM
| [[Kikuyu language|Kikuyu]]
| 2000
| [http://www.corofm.co.ke/ corofm.co.ke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105201034/http://www.corofm.co.ke/ |date=5 January 2019 }}
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Pwani FM
| [[Swahili language|Swahili]] for the Coastal region
| 2001
| [http://www.pwanifm.co.ke/ pwanifm.co.ke]{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Nosim FM
| [[Maasai language|Maasai]]
| 2011
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Minto FM
| [[Gusii language|Kisii]]
| 2011
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Kitwek FM
| [[Nandi–Markweta languages|Kalenjin]]
| 2011
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Mwago FM
| [[Meru language|Meru]]
| 2011
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Mayienga FM
| [[Luo dialect|Luo]]
| 2011
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Mwatu FM
| [[Kamba language|Kamba]]
| 2012
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Ingo FM
| [[Luhya language|Luhya]]
| 2012
|
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| Iftiin FM
| [[Somali language|Somali]]
|
| [http://www.iftiinfm.co.ke/ iftiinfm.co.ke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317155346/http://www.iftiinfm.co.ke/ |date=17 March 2022 }}
|-
| Bula cadaan FM
| [[Somali language|Somali]]
|
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kbc.co.ke/ Kenya Broadcasting home page]

{{Media in Kenya}}
{{European Broadcasting Union Members}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Companies of Kenya]]
[[Category:Mass media in Kenya]]
[[Category:Television stations in Kenya]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Kenya]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of Kenya]]
[[Category:Multilingual broadcasters]]
[[Category:Kenya Colony]]
[[Category:Radio stations established in 1953]]
[[Category:1953 establishments in Kenya]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1962]]
[[Category:Defunct shortwave radio stations]]

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Kenya Broadcasting Corporation