Why Standard Group's TV & Radio Stations Went Off Air Today

In response to the disruption, the media company stated that restoration efforts were carried out, with engineers on-site working to resolve the issue.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
May 23, 2025 - 14:31
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Why Standard Group's TV & Radio Stations Went Off Air Today
Entrance to Standard Group Limited offices along Mombasa Road. /NAIROBI NEWS

Standard Group Limited on Friday, May 23, announced a temporary outage which disrupted the media house's TV and radio services.

In a brief statement issued on Friday morning, the organisation had confirmed that the majority of its television and radio platforms were off air due to a technical issue.

However, the Standard clarified that several of its TV and radio stations—among them KTN, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM—remained operational.

In response to the disruption, the media company stated that restoration efforts were carried out, with engineers on-site working to resolve the issue.

Inside the Standard Group newsroom. /STANDARD DIGITAL

"Standard Group radio and TV platforms are temporarily off air due to a technical hitch; KTN, Radio Maisha, Spice FM, and Berur FM are available online as engineers work to restore services," the company said.  

Despite numerous viewers reportedly inquiring about the unavailability of the stations, Standard Group did not disclose the specific cause of the outage.

As of 12.36 pm, the Mombasa Road-based media house reported that the affected radio and TV platforms were back on air. Still, they did not specify what caused the outage.

This recent incident unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing challenges faced by the media house, including financial difficulties that have reportedly led to unpaid staff salaries and threats of licence revocation by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

Back in April, the CA warned that it could revoke Standard Media’s broadcasting licence due to outstanding payments exceeding Ksh43 million in fees and other charges.

The Authority cited the failure to pay license fees and the Universal Service Fund (USF) levy, and also dismissed a debt repayment plan the company had proposed in December 2024. The agreement was aimed at clearing Ksh48 million in regulatory dues, which the Standard Group attributes to ongoing economic challenges.

In response, the media company fired back, calling the move a politically driven effort to silence its critical reporting on the Kenya Kwanza government. 

“We entered and signed an agreement with the Communication Authority that we will be paying Ksh2.5 million a month towards the completion of this debt,” Standard Group’s Chief Executive Editor, Chaacha Mwita, disclosed.

“And we went ahead to increase this amount from Ksh2.5 million to Ksh4 million a month. We have been adhering to that payment plan. So, anything outside of that smacks of ill-will and malice, and we have no option but to fight it.”

Mwita connected the threat to revoke the licences with the Group’s recent investigative reporting and hard-hitting headlines, which have continued to uncover alleged corruption and governance lapses within President William Ruto’s administration.

Standard Group offices along Mombasa Road. /STANDARD DIGITAL

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