Lifeline for Standard Group TV and Radio Licences

Communications Authority of Kenya’s decision to revoke several broadcast licenses held by the Standard Group has been halted by a tribunal, handing the media house a crucial lifeline as it battles out with the regulator. In orders issued on 16th April, Communications Appeals Tribunal Chairperson Rosemary Kuria granted a stay of the revocation notices pending an inter partes hearing.

The tribunal directed the Communications Authority to stop the revocation of licenses for Spice FM, KTN News, Berur FM, Radio Maisha, and KTN Burudani until the matter is heard and determined on 2^nd May.  “Pending the inter partes hearing of the application, there be a stay of the implementation of the decision of the Respondent to revoke and/or of the notices of the revocation of the Appellant’s broadcasting licences,” the order stated.

The court instructed Standard Group to serve all relevant documents to the Communications Authority by the close of business on 17^th April. It will be an interesting case to watch as Standard plots to defend itself against its inability to meet its statutory obligations with CA.

CA, through Director-General David Mugonyi, announced the revocation of the Group’s licences, citing non-remittance of licence fees and the Universal Service Fund (USF) levy. In a letter dated 9th April 2025, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), through Director General David Mugonyi, cancels the licences, citing non-remittance of licence fees and the Universal Service Fund (USF) levy, amounting to Ksh48 million.

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According to Mr Mugonyi, the Communications Authority of Kenya had issued six-month revocation notices in September 2024, which expired on 24th March, 2025. If CA had implemented the notice, it would have switched off switch off KTN and Standards other broadcasting arms such as Radio Maisha and Spice FM and Burudani TV.

Citing harsh economic conditions, the company has admittedly accrued a debt of Ksh48 million to the CA in licence fees, but explained that this figure had been significantly reduced since a payment plan was agreed and signed in December 2024.

It said in spite of the agreement, the CA issued a notice revoking all the group’s broadcasting licences, an action Chief Executive Editor Chaacha Mwita described as a deliberate attempt by the State to silence the media house, following its recent reportage exposing the ills in the Kenya kwanza administration led by President William Ruto.