Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC)

Bio

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) is the state-run media organisation of Kenya. It broadcasts in English and Swahili, as well as in most local languages of Kenya. The corporation started its life in 1928 when Kenya was a British colony. In 1964, when Kenya became an independent country, the corporation's name was changed to Voice of Kenya. In 1989, the Kenyan parliament reverted the corporation's name from Voice of Kenya to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

During the rule of president Daniel arap Moi, KBC became the mouthpiece of the government. Each broadcast opened with a piece on what the president had been doing that day. Under the second president, Mwai Kibaki KBC took a more objective line.

The corporation helped mould most of Kenya's notable journalists especially before the liberalization of the airwaves in Kenya. One such journalist is Leonard Mambo Mbotela whose name has for a long time been synonymous with KBC radio's Idhaa ya Kiswahili (Swahili Service). Others before him included Job Isaac Mwamto, Amina Fakhii, Khadija Ali, and Stephen Kikumu, who was one of the pioneer broadcasters.

In the English service broadcasters who pioneered the service were Hassan Mazoa, Sammy Lui, followed later by Peter Njoroge, Elizabeth Omolo and in the prime hey days of the service in the 70s were Abdulhaq and George Opiyo.

Photos

KENairobi, Kenya
In operation since: 
1928

Contact

+254202223757
The Reception
Profile added by Stanley Gazemba on 04 Jun 2014
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