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Man charged with running radio station without licence

He was released on Sh100,000 bond by Kisumu Magistrates Court

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by EMMANUEL WANJALA

News04 July 2023 - 14:14
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In Summary


  • • Licensing for establishment and operation of a radio station is done by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK).
  • • Community Broadcasting Services licensing is given to individuals or groups that want to run a community radio.
Austin John before Kisumu Magistrates Court where he was charged with four counts of establishing and running a radio station without a valid license, July 4, 2023.

A man was on Tuesday arraigned before a Kisumu court and charged with establishing and running a radio station without a valid licence.

The Director of Public Prosecutions said Austin John was presented before Kisumu Magistrates Court and charged with four counts.

He was accused of establishing a radio station without a valid licence, providing radio broadcasting services without a valid licence and two other counts the DPP did not specify.

"Austin John pleaded not guilty to all the four charges before Hon Joan Wambilianga and was released on a bond of Sh100,000," the DPP said in a statement.

He said the prosecution led by senior police constable Nina Opiyo has lined up a total of nine witnesses to testify against him on September 16, 2023.

Licencing for establishment and operation of a radio station is done by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK).

Licences are provided for three categories of radio broadcasting which are Public Broadcasting, Commercial/Private broadcasting service and Community Broadcasting services.

Public broadcasting licence is only given to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), the national broadcaster.

Community Broadcasting Services licencing is given to individuals or groups that want to run a community radio.

Radio stations that play copyrighted music are by law also required to obtain a licence from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).

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