Standard Media Group Faces Setback as Tribunal Upholds Licence Revocation

Standard Media Group is facing a major operational setback after the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) received approval to revoke six of its broadcasting licences over unpaid fees totaling Ksh48.9 million.

In a ruling delivered on March 27, the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal dismissed the media house’s appeal, affirming that the revocation process is lawful under the Kenya Information and Communications Act (KICA). The decision effectively clears the way for the regulator to proceed with cancelling the licences. The affected stations include Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Vybez Radio, Berur FM, KTN Burudani, and KTN News—key outlets in the group’s broadcast portfolio.

The tribunal cited the company’s persistent failure to settle licence fees and the Universal Service Fund levy, despite receiving multiple notices and extensions. While Standard Media Group had acknowledged the outstanding debt and proposed a payment plan, the tribunal maintained that compliance with regulatory obligations is mandatory. The ruling now places the media house at risk of losing a significant portion of its broadcast reach, underscoring the financial and regulatory pressures facing media organizations in Kenya.