There is no national interest in withdrawal of licences by CA, declares Governor Peter Munya

Meru Governor Peter Munya (left) is welcomed to the Standard Group headquarters on Mombasa Road by the media house’s Chief Executive O?cer Sam Shollei Thursday. [PHOTO: GEORGE MULALA/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Meru Governor Peter Munya has criticised the withdrawal of operating licences of the top television stations in Kenya by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

The chair of the legal committee in the Council of Governors said handing over the right to distribute TV signal to a foreign firm has grave implications on security, and sends the wrong signal to would-be investors.

“I do not see any national interest in this move,” said Munya when he visited Standard Media Group headquarters Thursday.

The only motivation for the withdrawal, Munya said, would be if the policy makers drew a monetary benefit from involving foreign firms.

“We are seeing a reduced space within which stories can be told,” he said. Leading media houses have protested the cancellation of licences for KTN, Citizen TV and NTV.

Munya said he will present the dispute before the Council of Governors in its next meeting because he believes it is a matter of utmost importance to everyone. The three media houses have promised court action.

Standard Group Chief Executive officer Sam Shollei said all avenues would be sought to ensure Kenyans are not forced to pay for watching television.

“Our business model has always been to provide free television but this is all changing now,” Shollei said, promising to lead the fight to the “highest possible levels”.

A judicial review on whether forcing the local channels to cede content to third parties was fair, is top on Shollei’s cards as the chair of the Media Owners Association. He said the local channels spend billions of shillings to generate content while Star Times, the Chinese firm granted licences to distribute digital content, got it for free and is even selling it for a profit.

“CA cannot possibly revoke our licences as local firms to the advantage of foreign companies that have invested nothing in its generation. It must do the right thing now,” Mr Shollei said.

CA withdrew the licences as a reaction to a collective decision by the three stations to run informative adverts informing viewers that they should not pay for television content.

The media owners argue that Star Times and GoTv-owned by MultiChoice - have been broadcasting their content without prior permission, which infringes on intellectual property rights.

Star Times has been allocated 120 out of a total of 197 frequencies, which represents 61 per cent of the country digital television broadcasting frequencies.

KBC and GoTV have been allocated 51 frequencies, representing 26 per cent, and Radio Africa 11. The consortium of Nation Media Group, Standard Group, and Royal Media Services has been allocated only 10 frequencies.