Kenya Broadcasting Corporation


Kenya Broadcasting Corporation is the state-run media organisation of Kenya. It broadcasts in English and 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 colony, making it the first radio station in Kenya. It was initially called the East African Broadcasting Corporation, 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.
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 Kiswahili, Dholuo, Kikuyu, Kinandi, Kiluhya, Kikib and Arabic.
  • 1954: Kenya Broadcasting Services was established. Regional stations were set up in Mombasa, Nyeri and Kisumu.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.
  • 2009: 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.