A couple of months ago, Mt. Kenya TV was closed for the next four weeks by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).
The TV station, which airs content in vernacular, is owned by M/s Sloped Media House Ltd.
At that time, it was reported the station broadcasted inappropriate content during the watershed period (between 5 AM and 10 PM).
The watershed period is a time when adult content should not be aired.
As of today, the CA has also suspended SASA TV, which is owned by M/S Neno Evangelism Centre.
The TV station will not be airing live programming for the next six months.
According to the CA, the decision was arrived at after an investigation found out that SASA TV aired inappropriate content during the watershed period.
This was done in October 2021.
To this end, it means that the station violated regulations stipulated in the Kenya Information and Communications Act, 1998, Broadcasting Regulations, 2009, the Programming Code, and Broadcasting Licensing Conditions.
That is not all: the CA has also compelled the station to ensure that its staff are well trained and accredited by the Media Council of Kenya.
“The staff must undergo mandatory training on appropriate operations of the Profanity Delay Mechanism system, management of live broadcasts, broadcasting legal framework, consumer protection, and complaints handling,” says the CA in a statement.
Additional measures that SASA TV should undertake include ensuring that its workers are trained on appropriate operations of the Profanity Delay Mechanism system, management of live broadcasts, broadcasting legal framework, consumer protection, and complaints handling.
Finally, the CA says that the station must develop and implement adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with broadcast content standards.
Non-adherence to these directives may attract further sanctions including revocation of SASA TV’s license.
