RANKED: Top 10 Most Listened to Radio Stations in Kenya

Maina Kageni, Masawe Japani and Giddy
A photo collage of Classic FM Radio presenter Maina Kageni (left), Radio Jambo duo Masawe Japani (centre) and Giddy (right).
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Maina Kageni, Radio Jambo

Global research company Ipsos has unveiled a list of the most popular radio stations in Kenya with Radio Citizen, which is owned by the Royal Media Services (RMS), taking the lead.

According to a report released by the research firm on Tuesday, Radio Citizen topped the list with an audience reach of 10.4 per cent and an audience share of 20 per cent. 

An audience reach is the number of unique people who listen to a radio station while an audience share is the total average percentage of people who listen to a radio station at a given period. 

Notably, it is the third consecutive year that Radio Citizen has emerged as the most popular station since 2021 when it began its upward trajectory.

A collage of Spice FM, Vybez Radio and Radio Maisha studios
A collage of Spice FM, Vybez Radio and Radio Maisha studios
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Spice FM/Radio Maisha/Standard Media Group

Radio Jambo and Radio Maisha which mostly broadcast in Kiswahili came second and third respectively with an audience reach of 2.7 per cent and an audience share of 7.5 per cent and 2.7 per cent. 

At fourth, fifth and sixth place in terms of audience reach were Kameme Radio, owned by Mediamax, Radio 47, and RMS-owned Ramogi FM. Despite being launched in 2023, Radio 47 had an audience reach of 2.5 per cent and an audience share of 5.8 per cent.

Barely two years after it began operations, Radio 47 has been categorised as one of the fastest-growing stations in the country. Owned by Cape Media, the station recently announced plans to launch an ultra-modern studio to celebrate its second anniversary.

Milele FM, Inooro FM, Musyi FM, and Kass FM followed in seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, respectively, among the most popular radio stations in the country.

In the eleventh position was Classic FM, which mostly broadcasts in English and whose audience is primarily based in Nairobi. Classic FM had an audience reach of 1.1 per cent and an audience share of 2.0 per cent.

The report further revealed that Kenyans aged 25 to 34 years were the leading consumers of radio content at 33 per cent, followed by those aged 18 to 24 years at 26.8 per cent.

Regionally, the report highlighted Central Kenya as the leader in the consumption of radio content, followed by the Rift Valley, Western Kenya, Nairobi, and the Coast, respectively.

Ipsos, in its report, also highlighted females as the gender most likely to listen to radio stations, contributing 50.1 per cent of the total listeners, followed by males at 49.9 per cent.

A photo of a radio station studio.
A photo of a radio station studio.
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Varsity Scope