The government has announced plans to address challenges that have been bedevilling the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) for years now, including debts.
The ICT ministry noted that the state broadcaster is facing a myriad of challenges that have affected its operations.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Stephen Isaboke said the government will soon address the media house's historical debts, outdated infrastructure, legal challenges, and unresolved land ownership issues the media house has been struggling with.
"During the engagement, KBC Managing Director, Agnes Kalekye Nguna, presented a candid overview of the challenges facing the corporation, including outdated infrastructure, protracted legal battles, historical debts, and unresolved land ownership issues," the PS said after a meeting with the KBC's senior management on Tuesday, June 10.
According to Isaboke, the move will be pivotal in elevating the media house into a modern, efficient, and financially sustainable public broadcaster.
According to the ministry, the expected reforms are part of the long-term strategies that the government is laying out to transform the media house into a digitally responsive media house, in addition to expanding its coverage of the country.
"KBC must reclaim its rightful place as a trusted national voice, offering quality content and access to information to every Kenyan — especially those in unserved and underserved areas," the PS said.
"Discussions also revolved around the broadcaster's short- and long-term strategies to ensure financial viability, expand coverage, and strengthen its role in national development and cohesion," the ministry added.
KBC is the state-run media organisation. It broadcasts in English and Swahili, as well as in most local languages of Kenya.
The corporation was launched as a radio service in 1928, when Kenya was a British colony, thus making it the first media house in Kenya.
Earlier this year, the ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo asserted that equipping the media house with modern equipment will muscle up its capacity to play its primary role as the national broadcaster effectively.
"The ministry is planning to transform Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) into a modern and well-equipped media house for it to perform its role as an effective national broadcaster competitively," the CS stated.
