Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) Director General, Ezra Chiloba on Tuesday raided one of the Kikuyu radio stations within Nairobi’s Tena Estate.
Apparently, the vernacular radio station called Gituamba FM had been illegally operating at Puma Court in Tena Estate.
According to a statement released by the Communications Authority of Kenya, Gituamba FM had been operating illegally since they lacked relevant documents and no operating licence. The owners had reportedly refused to obtain such documents.
“Gituamba FM has been operating from a residential building. The station was broadcasting without a licence from the Authority, contrary to the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 (KICA),” read part of the statement.
As a result, the owner of the Kikuyu radio was arrested and locked at the Buruburu police station as he awaits court proceedings on Wednesday.Â
“During the operation, the station’s owner was taken into custody. He will be charged with the establishment of a radio communication station without a valid licence,” read part of the statement signed by Chiloba.Â
A fine not exceeding 300,000 Kenya shillings or a jail term of upto 3 years or both is applicable in such a case as stipulated by the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998 (KICA).
At the same time, SASA TV belonging to Pastor Ng’ang’as Neno Evangelism was equally shut down a few days ago for airing inappropriate content. It will remain closed for six months according to the directive by Ezra Chiloba.
“The Communications Authority of Kenya has directed M/S Neno Evangelism Centre, a broadcaster operating as SASA TV, to stop airing live programming with immediate effect. This directive shall be observed for a period of six months,” CA directed.
The statement further added that SASA TV violated the provisions of the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, Broadcasting Regulations, 2009, the Programming Code, and Broadcasting Licence Conditions.
Chiloba maintained that the suspension came after investigations “considered inappropriate content aired by SASA TV during the watershed period” on October 3, 2021.
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