-
Kenya has 155 commercial radio stations and 37 community radio stations, and one public broadcasting radio station as of January 2023, according to Communications Authority (CA).
The various radio stations are owned either by individuals, organizations, or communities with the government owning Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) which is a public broadcaster.
Kenyans.co.ke looked at three journalists who quit their jobs to start their own radio stations.
Former RMS reporter Martin Kosgey (left) and the studio of his new station, Nenyon FM.
File
Bonnie Musambi
While working as a radio presenter at KBC in 2020, Bonnie Musambi started an online audio publishing and streaming platform known as Sang’u.
In 2022, he decided to make the platform a fully-fledged radio station known as Sang’u FM.
After the launch of Sang’u FM, Musambi revealed that he was quitting KBC to concentrate on his new radio station and also venture into politics.
“I invite you all to Sang’u FM which will be broadcasting in Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties.
“The station will be broadcasting in Kikamba and Kiswahili and I will be occasionally co-presenting in the Rhumba Malamu show,” Musambi announced in his exit speech on February 8, 2022.
Musambi lost his bid for Kitui Central parliamentary seat in the 2022 polls and is now the main host of Rhumba Malamu.
David Bondo
David Bondo went viral when he was fired by Royal Media Services (RMS) for starting his own radio station when he was still working as a presenter for Ramogi FM which is owned by RMS.
In April 2019, the journalist opened his own radio station Ratego FM which was broadcasting from Siaya County.
In November 2022, Bondo partnered with former RMS marketing manager John Ondigi and rebranded Ratego FM to Jowi FM.
They also shifted the location of the radio station from Siaya to Kisumu County. In November 29, 2022, he was fired by RMS due to a conflict of interest.
A photo collage of John Odingi and Captain David Bondo
Captain David Bondo
Martin Kosgey
Martin Kosgey just like David Bondo, decided to start his own radio station while working as a reporter at RMS.
On May 26, 2022, speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, Kosgey revealed that he had opened Nenyon FM a Kalenjin-language station based in Kericho County.
He revealed at that time that the radio station was enjoyinga listenership of 1.2 million people per day covering the entire Rift Valley.
