Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) is the state-run media organisation of Kenya.[1] It broadcasts in English and Swahili, as well as in most local languages of Kenya. The corporation started its life in 1928 when Kenya was a British colony. In 1964, when Kenya became an independent country, the corporation's name was changed to Voice of Kenya. In 1989, the Kenyan parliament reverted the corporation's name from Voice of Kenya to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
TypeTerrestrial television and radio broadcast network
Country
Kenya
AvailabilityKenya
Founded1928
by the Government of Kenya
Slogan"Kenya's watching."
Broadcast area
Kenya
OwnerGovernment of Kenya
Launch date
1928 (radio)
1962 (television)
Official website
www.kbc.co.ke

During the rule of president Daniel arap Moi, KBC became the mouthpiece of the government. Each broadcast opened with a piece on what the president had been doing that day. Under the then president, Mwai Kibaki KBC took a more objective approach. The corporation helped mould most of Kenya's notable journalists especially before the liberalisation of the airwaves in Kenya. The pioneer broadcasters post independence were Mauric Mwendah (TV), Simeon Ndesanjo(Radio), Dalail Mzee(Radio),Aziz Yakub, ( Radio&TV), Aish Jenneby(TV).Then there was the infux of Salim Ibrahim Juma, Salim Mohameed Omar,Daniel Njuguna Gatei, Leonard Mambo Mbotela whose name has for a long time been synonymous with KBC radio's Idhaa ya Kiswahili (Swahili Service), Leonard Mambo is the longest serving broadcaster in Vok and KBC and the country, Kenya as a whole. Others before him included Job Isaac Mwamto, Amina Fakhii,Alfred Mike Muriethi, Joseph Kiema, Elizabeth Akinyi, Stephen Kikumu and others who spearheaded the swahili broadcasts. These were followed by the new breed of Billy Omala, James Abilla, Twalat Hamisi, Said Ali Matano, Ishmail Mohammed,Jacob William Maunda, Khadija Ali and Ali Salim Manga amongst many.

In the English service broadcasters who pioneered the service were Peter Clare, David Kelly, Hassan Mazoa, Sammy Lui, Norbert Okare, Martin Billy Mutta followed later by Peter Njoroge Mwaura, Elizabeth Omolo, Esther Kanyago, Yakub Ishaq, Amos Njogu amongst many. In the prime days of the service in the 1970s were Abdulhaq, George Opiyo, Tom Kazungu, Aisha Mohammed, Juweria Omari, Aisha Mohammed, Dan Olouch, Victor Omala, James Ogomah King and Kazungu Katana amongst others.

In the 80s and better part of 90s names such as Khamisi Themor, Ngulamu Mwaviro, Enacled Araba, Martin Nyongesa King`asia were also heard. The English service had its share of KIMC graduates, Serah Kihara, Gladys Erude. John Karani Wanjiru Kago Johnstone Omurunga,also opportunities were accorded to other KBC employees such as Ike Mulembo, Larry Wambua and others on the English Service.

KBC aired the popular Vitimbi comedy and drama show for more than 30 years before the show was taken off air on the national broadcaster in 2015.[2]

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 Kiswahili, Dholuo, 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 24 kilometres (15 mi).
  • 1 July 1964 – Kenya Broadcasting Corporation was nationalised into Voice of Kenya through an Act of Parliament.
  • 1978 – Kenya television transitioned to color.
  • 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 rooting network.
  • 1996 – KBC commissioned Metro FM as a 90% music radio.
  • September 2000 – KBC commissioned Metro Television as a sports and entertainment channel.
  • December 2000 – KBC started Coro FM, transmitting in Kikuyu language to Nairobi and Mount Kenya Region.
  • 2001 – Pwani FM was started to cater to the Coast Region.

Radio stations
Station Language Launch date Website
KBC English Service English 1928 kbcenglish.co.ke
KBC Western Service Pokot and Teso 1952
Radio Taifa Swahili 1953
KBC Eastern Service Turkana, Rendille, Burji, and Borana 1972
Coro FM Kikuyu 2000 corofm.co.ke
Pwani FM Swahili for the Coastal region 2001 pwanifm.co.ke
Nosim FM Maasai 2011
Minto FM Kisii 2011
Kitwek FM Kalenjin 2011
Mwago FM Meru 2011
Mayienga FM Luo 2011
Mwatu FM Kamba 2012
Ingo FM Luhya 2012
Iftiin FM Somali iftiinfm.co.ke

Programs

Current

Imported shows

Animated shows

Soap Opera

Former

Domestic shows

Gospel
  • Joy Bringers
  • Sing and Shrine

Soap Opera
  • Tausi

Children's
  • Children's Variety Show

Imported shows

Animated shows

Children's Programmes

Comedy

Drama

Telenovelas

Soap Opera

Reality

Anthology

References
  1. "CAP. 221". www.kenyalaw.org. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  2. Mwaura, Samora. "This is vioja, 'Vitimbi' minus Mzee Ojwang Hatari". The Nairobian. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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