Local broadcasters to air 40% local content or risk penalties from CAK

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has directed television stations operating in Kenya to air 40% local content or risk penalties from the authority.

Although the authority is yet to come up with the said penalties, CA’s Director General Francis Wangusi said that among them would be asking the offending media house to pay more to the Universal Service Fund , money that will be used to support the production of local content in the country.

Wangusi was speaking at a breakfast meeting at the Hilton that brought together broadcasters, content producers and the media to chart the way forward on the airing 40% of local content as provided for in the law.

“Previously there was no incentive but now if you are not going to meet 40% there are only two things; you will pay more to the Universal Service Fund so that we can use that money to grow local content or we will prescribe different penalties to ensure that you comply,” he said.

Wangusi also said that they are in the process of coming up with a framework that will draw them close to the producer to help young artists to provide content , adding that a multimedia services department at CA had already been put to the task.

While speaking at the same event, Nation Media Group’s Manging Director (MD) Linus Kaikai said that it was time Kenyans learnt to embrace their own instead of leaning on foreign content. He reiterated the commitment of broadcasters in working with producers to have more local content aired on TV.

Content producers represented by Elimu TV’s Jane Muthiga said that they also wanted more representation of their work in the country.