The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has shut down a radio station set up illegally using aeronautical service frequencies.
CA had moved to court to have the man prosecuted citing a potential risk to the country's aviation systems and breach of security.
On Wednesday, a prosecution witness, an engineer responsible for managing frequency allocation at the CA,appearing before a Kisumu Court, clarified that the accused had previously sought permission from the Authority to obtain a frequency but his request was declined.
The regulator turned down his application because there were no frequencies available in Kisumu at the time of his request.
How frequencies are allocated
As per the engineer's testimony, broadcasting frequencies in Kenya are legally authorized to operate within the bandwidth of 87.0 MHz to 108.0 MHz.
Meanwhile, all frequencies falling within the range of 108.0 MHz to 137.0 MHz are specifically reserved for aviation service operations.
Subsequently, despite the accused's initial denial of a frequency allocation for his radio station, he proceeded to utilize aviation frequencies, thereby causing disruptions to the operations at Kisumu International Airport.
Illegal use of frequencies
The court heard that utilising such bandwidth is deemed unlawful because it poses a significant risk of interference with aeronautical frequencies critical for communication between pilots and the control tower.
This interference, it was emphasized, endangers the lives of passengers and other airspace users.
Throughout the hearing, it remained unconfirmed whether the illicit use of these frequencies had led to any accidents at the bustling airport.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the hearing will continue on October 24, 2023.
The accused was arrested on July 2023 and charged with four counts, among them establishing a radio station without a valid license, and providing radio broadcasting services illegally.
At the time of arrest, the accused denied all charges claiming that he had been framed.
