Major Kenyan Media House Faces Broadcast Shutdown Over £300,000 Debt Dispute
Nairobi, 28 March 2026
Kenya’s Standard Group battles to keep six major stations on air after tribunal upholds regulator’s right to revoke broadcasting licences over unpaid fees totalling 48.9 million shillings. The media conglomerate claims government owes them 1.2 billion shillings and frames the action as political vendetta rather than debt recovery.
Tribunal Upholds Regulator’s Authority
The Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal dismissed Standard Group’s appeal on Friday, 27 March 2026, clearing the path for the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) to proceed with licence revocations [1]. The tribunal ruled that the planned revocation is lawful and complies with the Kenya Information and Communications Act, rejecting the media house’s legal challenge against a notice demanding payment of Sh48.9 million [1]. This decision affects six broadcasting stations operated by Standard Group: Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Vybez Radio, Berur FM, KTN Burudani, and KTN News [1].
Outstanding Debt and Regulatory Timeline
The dispute centres on Standard Group’s failure to pay outstanding licence fees and the Universal Fund Levy, with the CA having issued notices of contravention of licence terms from 4 December 2023, which lapsed on 17 January 2024 [1]. The regulator held multiple meetings with Standard Group on 14 June 2023, December 2023, and 9 February 2024, attempting to resolve the non-payment of regulatory fees [1]. Despite these discussions, Standard Group acknowledges the debt but denies entering into any formal payment plan with the CA [1].
Counter-Claims and Government Debt Allegations
Standard Group has mounted a defence based on counter-claims against the government, asserting that it is owed Sh1.2 billion by the state [1]. Acting Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita stated: ‘The Government cannot hold a knife to our throat with one hand while extending an empty promise of payment with the other. The remedy is simple: Pay what you owe The Standard Group, and we will pay what we owe the CA’ [1]. The company maintains that settling the government debt would enable them to clear all outstanding obligations to the regulator [1].
Press Freedom and Political Vendetta Claims
Standard Group has characterised the licence revocation as an attack on press freedom rather than legitimate debt recovery, with the company stating: ‘The Standard Group is being punished not for failing to pay a debt, but for failing to be silenced’ [1][7]. The media house has vowed to pursue further legal avenues in court to block the CA’s action, framing the dispute as a coordinated assault aimed at silencing their operations [1]. Mwita emphasised the company’s determination, declaring: ‘We shall not be silenced. We shall not be intimidated. And we shall continue to report the truth, today, tomorrow, and always’ [7].