Media Council: Kenyans Watched KBC More Than KTN

National broadcaster, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) seems to be returning to its glory days as a new report by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) showed its popularity over the likes of KTN News.

As many Kenyans were unable to troop to Kasarani Stadium to catch President William Ruto being sworn in due to the 60,000-seater stadium being packed to capacity before 5.00 am, they chose to follow it from the comfort of their homes.

They tuned in to TV stations to catch the ceremony live, and with the explosive rise of the digital age, others followed the proceedings through live streams on YouTube and other social media platforms.

The MCK in its report released on Wednesday, September 14 showed how many Kenyans watched the swearing-in through the YouTube channels of Kenya's mainstream media houses as well as digital platforms.

Journalists covering the swearing-in ceremony of President William Ruto at Kasarani Stadium on September 13, 2022. /MEDIA COUNCIL OF KENYA

Amidst the heavy online conversation surrounding KBC before the swearing-in, its live stream was watched by 18,368 people, which is more than KTN News which recorded an average of 17,784 live views. To be specific, its usual audience in prime events similar to Ruto's inauguration averaged only 1,000.

Despite its regaining popularity, KBC still has quite a long way to go to catch the current leaders in mainstream media. It was almost within reach of the Nation digital news platform, which had an average of 24,596 people following the ceremony.

NTV had an average of 67,908 views. Both of them are under the Nation Media Group (NMG).

Citizen TV, under Royal Media Services (RMS), had an average of 232,387 people watching the swearing-in, the most by any media house on YouTube in Kenya.

Here is the full list of average viewers on YouTube per media house during the presidential inauguration:

1. Citizen TV - An average of 232,387 followed the event. 
2. NTV Kenya - An average of 67,908 followed the event. 
3. Nation - An average of 24,596 followed the event.
4. KBC Channel 1 - An average of 18,368 followed the event.  
5. KTN News - An average of 17,784 followed the event.
6. K24 TV- An average of 4,540 followed the event.
7. KTN Home-  An average of 4,410 followed the event.
8. African Uncensored- An average of 2,636 followed the event.
9. Inooro TV- An average of 1,521 followed the event.
10. Kameme TV- An average of 1,074 followed the event.
11. TV47- An average of 811 followed the event.
12. Kenyans.co.ke- An average of 324 followed the event.
13. Switch Media (formerly Switch TV)- An average of 123 followed the event.

It was revealed that KBC would be the only local TV station that had rights to cover the event alongside a private company (Live Eye). Live Eye is a company that was contracted by Ruto's communications team, as stated by Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and would set up a channel that broadcast the historic national event across the continent.

The station has been streaming the event dubbed “Kenya Presidential Inauguration” from Monday, September 12 in readiness for the event the following day. The channel will continue to air for three days before it is shut down on Thursday, September 14.

Following the move, the likes of Citizen TV, NTV, KTN and TV47 among others were to rely on a live feed, despite sending crews to the Kasarani Stadium where they interviewed those on the streets attending the event as well as got their reactions which they would on their later prime time bulletins. It turns out that it did not reflect on the MCK leaderboard.

Where Kenyans watched the Presidential inauguration #InaugurationKenya pic.twitter.com/xx309yRqE0 — Media Council of Kenya (@MediaCouncilK) September 14, 2022

With the announcement, KBC's social media team was kept busy and churned out creative posts after creative posts, showcasing the content, men and women in the media house who light up audiences on TV and those behind the scenes that bring the news-like atmosphere to life.

Ruto has previously hinted at overhauling the media house after his government takes power, stating that with it running as a commercial entity, the station based at Harry Thuku road, Nairobi would regain its glory as the great media house it was once known for across the country for its excellence in journalism.

He said that KBC lost its credibility after it became a mouthpiece of whoever was in government.

News Anchors Unveiled By KBC TV During a Relaunch Done on July 21, 2021. /KBC

"It must operate differently, otherwise nobody is going to advertise, we must run KBC as a commercial entity, it must make money, it must run itself we cannot continue to fund KBC from public coffers,” Ruto stated on KTN News during a town hall meeting on July 7 at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.

“The problem of KBC in the past is that it became a mouthpiece of whoever was in government and it lost credibility, it must keep to being objective, it must keep being balanced, it cannot be a place where they report the President from morning to evening."

KBC in July 2021 underwent a top-to-bottom rebranding and poached exciting talents who have previously been news anchors at rival TV stations. It also brought back veteran anchors who had steered KBC into the powerhouse it was in the past.