The Kenyan government has temporarily suspended a planned Kshs. 9 billion investment in the modernisation of the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) until critical reforms are implemented. Information, Communication, and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo announced the decision while appearing before the Senate’s ICT Committee, emphasizing the need to address internal inefficiencies before injecting funds into the state broadcaster.
According to Kabogo, KBC has long struggled with financial mismanagement, ghost workers, staff redundancy, and wastage of resources. He asserted that modernising the corporation without first tackling these structural challenges would result in continued financial losses. The government’s primary focus is now on implementing reforms to streamline operations, eliminate ghost workers, and ensure that resources are managed efficiently.
Kabogo expressed confidence that the reforms will yield positive results within the next 60 days, after which the government can reconsider the investment. The planned Kshs. 9 billion modernisation program aims to upgrade broadcasting technology, improve infrastructure, and expand KBC’s service reach to enhance its competitiveness in the digital era.
Beyond internal inefficiencies, the ICT Ministry has also raised concerns over mounting pending bills within the State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications. Currently, pending bills stand at Kshs. 117 million, with KBC alone owing Kshs. 108 million in statutory deductions. Budgetary cuts in the supplementary budget have exacerbated this financial burden, further highlighting the need for fiscal discipline before additional funds are allocated.
The delay in modernisation funding signals the government’s commitment to fostering accountability and efficiency in state-run institutions. KBC, once a dominant force in Kenya’s media landscape, has faced stiff competition from private broadcasters, necessitating urgent technological upgrades and operational restructuring.
Stakeholders in the media and telecommunications sectors are watching closely as the government moves to implement these reforms. If successful, KBC’s transformation could mark the beginning of a new era for the public broadcaster, positioning it as a key player in Kenya’s rapidly evolving digital media space. However, the success of these efforts hinges on the government’s ability to enforce meaningful changes within the stipulated timeframe.
