Kenya
 |
Population: | 39,002,772 |
| Capital: | Nairobi | |
| Language: | English and KiSwahili (official) man indigenous languages | |
| Literacy Rate: | 85.1% | |
| GDP/PP: | $1,600 | |
| Joined Commonwealth: | 12 December 1963 |
Media
Kenya has a more diverse media scene than many other African countries, with a large middle class providing a base for substantial advertising revenue. But some incidents in recent years have alarmed observers.
There have been significant media freedom issues, particularly around elections. The government reacts harshly to perceived media infractions such as In March 2006 when armed police, acting on government orders, stormed the offices and presses of the Standard media group. Amid the violence that followed disputed elections in late 2007, the authorities imposed a ban some live broadcast output.
In early 2009, media outlets condemned President Kibaki's decision to approve changes to the media law, which they said would limit press freedom. The amended legislation gave officials the power to control broadcast content on grounds of national security.
The print media is dominated by two publishing houses, the Nation and Standard. Both have substantial broadcasting operations.
Most Kenyans rely on the broadcast media, particularly radio, for news. Until recently the liberalisation of broadcasting had a limited impact outside Nairobi but some private networks now have wide coverage of much of the country. TV viewing is substantial, but few Kenyans are regular internet users, owing to cost and access problems.
Full-time FM relays of the BBC World Service are on the air in Nairobi (93.9), Mombasa (93.9) and Kisumu (88.1), and private Kameme FM also rebroadcasts some BBC programmes. The Voice of America has an FM relay in Nairobi and Radio France Internationale is relayed on FM in Mombasa.
Newspapers
Coast Week - Mombasa based paper
The Daily Nation- leading independent daily paper published by the Nation Media Group, the paper claims to have three quarters of the Kenyan newspaper market. It is widely regarded as being independent and balanced
Kenya Times - daily KANU (ruling party) paper
The Standard - privately owned and Kenya's oldest paper
The East African - well-regarded regional business paper
Taifa Leo - Kenya's only Swahili-language daily, published by the Nation Media Group
The People Daily - owned by veteran politician Kenneth Matiba
Television
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, channels in English and Swahili
Metro TV - KBC-operated Nairobi station targeting younger viewers
Kenya Television Network (KTN) - first TV station to break state broadcasting monopoly; available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu
NTV - Nairobi-based, operated by Nation Media Group
Citizen TV - privately-owned
Stella TV (STV) - privately-owned
Family TV - Christian
Radio
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) - state-owned, services in English, Swahili and 15 other indigenous languages
Metro FM - national music-based station operated by KBC
Coro FM - KBC-operated Kikuyu-language station in Nairobi
Capital FM - private, music-based
East FM - private, targets Nairobi's Asian listeners
Easy FM - operated by Nation Media Group, relays in Nairobi, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nyeri
Kiss FM - private, music-based
Kameme FM - private, targets Kikuyu speakers in Nairobi and central highlands
Citizen Radio - private, also operates Kikuyu-language Inooro FM and Luo-language Radio Ramogi
Rehema Radio - private, Eldoret, programmes in Kalenjin
News agency
Kenya News Agency - state-owned, English-language
