Big Blow To Citizen TV, NTV And KTN As ICT PS Gives New Directives

ICT Principal Secretary Edward Kisiang’ani has issued a directive, dated 7th March, instructing all government agencies to exclusively advertise through the official national broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

This decision is aligned with the government’s strategy to centralize its advertising processes.

The communication, addressed to all Principal Secretaries and relevant heads of State Corporations, highlights KBC’s broader audience reach compared to other broadcasters across the country.

KBC, available on free-to-air channels in both TV and Radio, is positioned as the primary platform for government advertisements.

“In consideration of the above, electronic advertisements (radio and television) for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) under the National Government, Independent Commissions, and Public Universities will be managed by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), subject to authorization by the Government Advertising Agency (GAA). The extensive national network coverage offered by KBC ensures advertisers a broad reach across the nation,” part of the letter read.

This move poses a setback for private media houses like Citizen, Nation Media Group, and the Standard Media Group, which heavily rely on government adverts for revenue. Additionally, Kisiang’ani disclosed that the government owes substantial unpaid bills to these media houses.

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The anticipated revenue generated by KBC through government advertisements is expected to contribute to the revitalization of the national broadcaster.

In essence, this directive not only streamlines government advertising but also has financial implications for private media entities, as the government’s shift towards KBC is likely to impact their revenue streams.

The move is positioned as a strategic step to support the rejuvenation of KBC, leveraging government advertising funds for the benefit of the state-owned media house.