CA threatens to revoke Standard Group licences over Ksh.48.8M fees as media house cites Ksh.1.2B State debt

In a ruling delivered on March 27, 2026, the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal dismissed the media house’s appeal, clearing the way for the regulator to proceed with cancelling the licences tied to stations including KTN News, KTN Burudani, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, Vybez Radio and Berur FM.

The Authority says the action stems from arrears amounting to Ksh.48.87 million, comprising licence fees and the Universal Service Fund levy, which it maintains the broadcaster failed to settle despite multiple notices, extensions and engagements over several years.

“The impending revocation was lawful, valid, and in accordance with the Kenya Information and Communications Act,” the regulator said in a statement.

However, the Standard Group has pushed back strongly, terming the move premature and legally contestable, while signalling plans to challenge the move by the Communications Authority to the High Court.

In a press statement, the media house framed the dispute as a financial standoff with the State, claiming it is owed more than Ksh.1.2 billion by government ministries, state agencies and county governments for advertising and media services rendered.

The broadcaster acknowledged the outstanding regulatory fees but attributed non-payment to cash flow constraints caused by the government’s failure to settle its debts.

"Yes, the Group has outstanding regulatory fees. But these arrears were never settled not because of bad faith, but because the same Government that now seeks to shut us down has itself failed to honour its obligations to The Standard Group PLC."

"To date, the Government of Kenya, through various ministries, state corporations, and county governments, owes The Standard Group in excess of KShs. 1.2 billion for advertising and media services rendered over several years," reads the statement. 

The Standard Group further disputed claims that it had entered into a binding payment plan with the Authority, saying discussions on settling the arrears were exploratory and ultimately undermined by its financial position.

"If the Government paid what it owes us, we would have settled our regulatory obligations long ago. It is the height of irony, it is an abuse of process for the same State, through one of its agencies, to brand us as a defaulter while its other arms remain in arrears of over a billion shillings," the Group stated.

"The Government cannot hold a knife to our throat with one hand while extending an empty promise of payment with the other. The remedy is simple: Pay what you owe The Standard Group, and we will pay what we owe the CA. We have instructed our legal team to lodge an appeal against the Tribunal’s decision."

The regulator, however, maintains that the broadcaster had ample opportunity to regularise its obligations, pointing to notices of contravention issued as far back as December 2023 and subsequent revocation notices in 2024 and 2025.

The tribunal sided with the Authority, ruling that statutory obligations under KICA are clear and enforceable, and that claims of legitimate expectation or constitutional violations could not override compliance requirements.