Standard Group Responds to Govt Plans to Shut Down KTN News, Radio Maisha and 4 Other Stations

The Standard Group PLC has issued a response after the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) moved to shut down KTN, Radio Maisha, and four other stations over Ksh 48.87 million in outstanding broadcasting licence fees.

The decision by CA followed a ruling by the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal, which gave the regulator a go-ahead to proceed with the revocation.

In a statement issued hours after the announcement, through its Acting CEO, Chaacha Mwita, the Standard Group acknowledged the ruling delivered by the tribunal dismissing its appeal against the regulator’s intended move.

“The Standard Group PLC acknowledges the ruling delivered today, March 27, 2026, by the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal, which dismissed our appeal against the Communications Authority of Kenya’s intended revocation of six broadcasting licences assigned to us,” the statement read.

Standard Group Breaks Silence After CA Intends to Revoke License of its 6 Stations

However, the media house maintained that the matter is far from concluded, noting that it is yet to receive the full ruling and will pursue further legal action.

“While we respect the judicial process, we have not received the complete ruling yet to make any substantive statement on it. We must categorically state that the matter is far from concluded. The Group will exercise its legal right to challenge this ruling before the superior courts,” Mwita stated.

The company also urged the regulator to refrain from taking any immediate action, citing legal provisions that prevent the enforcement of tribunal decisions before the expiry of the appeal window or the determination of an appeal.

Also Read: CA Allowed to Switch Off KTN, Radio Maisha and 4 Other Standard Group Stations

Standard Reveals Govt Owes Them More than Ksh 1.2 Billion

Standard Group further questioned the basis of the decision, arguing that outstanding debt should not automatically lead to cancellation of licences, suggesting alternative recovery measures should have been considered.

At the same time, the media house dismissed claims that it is a willful defaulter, revealing that the Government of Kenya owes it more than Ksh 1.2 billion for advertising and media services provided over several years.

According to the company, the unpaid government debt has significantly affected its ability to settle regulatory fees.

“If the Government paid what it owes us, we would have settled our regulatory obligations long ago. It is the height of irony… for the same State, through one of its agencies, to brand us as a defaulter while its other arms remain in arrears,” the statement added.

Also Read: Kenya Airways Moves to Sue Standard Group

SG to File an Appeal

The media house confirmed it has instructed its legal team to file an appeal at the High Court, noting that such a move automatically halts enforcement of the tribunal’s decision under the law.

It also warned that any attempt by the regulator to proceed with the shutdown before the conclusion of the appellate process would be met with legal action.

Standard Group, which operates outlets including KTN, The Standard newspaper, and Radio Maisha, described the move as an attack on press freedom, vowing to continue its operations and defend its licences.

“We will exhaust every legal avenue to protect our licences, our staff, and our commitment to the Kenyan people,” the company stated.

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Communications Authority of Kenya offices in Nairobi. PHOTO/CA