The Standard Media Group has responded to a license revocation notice issued to the company by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
According to Standard Group, CA Director General David Mugonyi, in a letter dated April 9, 2025, announced the revocation of the company’s licenses, citing non-remittance of license fees and the Universal Service Fund (USF) levy.
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The Authority also dismissed an existing debt repayment plan of Ksh48 million as regulatory fees, with Mugonyi pointing out that CA had issued six-month revocation notices in September 2024, which expired on March 24, 2025.
He noted that the Authority had required the company to either settle the entire debt or submit a payment plan before the deadline.
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CA threatens to revoke Standard Group License
Mugonyi further said that the Authority would go ahead and issue a Gazette notice revoking all the broadcast licenses.
“This letter serves to inform you that the Authority is progressing to publish a notification on the revocation of all the broadcast licences issued to the Standard Group PLC in the Kenya Gazette,” stated the CA Director General.
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Standard Group’s Chief Executive Editor, Chaacha Mwita, refuted the claims by the regulatory authority while acknowledging that the company had accrued a debt of Ksh48 million to CA in license fees due to harsh economic conditions.
However, Mwita noted that this figure had been significantly reduced since a payment plan was agreed upon and signed in December 2024.
Standard Group said that under the repayment agreement, the company committed to a monthly payout plan where it deposited Ksh10 million in December 2024, followed by Ksh4 million in January 2025 and another Ksh4 million in February.
Despite the repayment agreement, the CA proceeded to issue a notice revoking all the group’s broadcasting licences.
Standard Group responds
Mwita described the move as a deliberate attempt by the State to silence the media house following its recent reportage exposing the ills in the Kenya kwanza administration.
“We entered and signed an agreement with the Communication Authority that we will be paying Ksh2.5 million a month towards the completion of this debt.
‘‘And we went ahead to increase this amount from Ksh2.5 million to Ksh4 million a month,” said Mwita.
“We have been adhering to that payment plan. So, anything outside of that smacks of ill-will and malice and we have no option but to fight it.”
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Mwita further maintained that the Standard Group will not be intimidated or forced to abandon its bold and authoritative reporting.
The move by CA comes after former Broadcasting Principal Secretary Edward Kisiang’ani cancelled Standard Group’s media contract with the Ministry of Irrigation despite the media house having been competitively selected to run a campaign for the launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan.
SG had been selected alongside the government broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Nation Media Group (NMG), Cape Media, and The Star, to run a campaign for the launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP).
A letter from the ICT Ministry addressed to the Irrigation PS, Ephantus Kimotho, confirmed that the four media houses had been approved to run the campaign.
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