Why the government wants to shut down Standard Group

The Standard Media Group has issued a response following a notice from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) regarding the cancellation of its operating licenses.

In a letter dated April 9, 2025, CA Director General David Mugonyi informed the company of the decision to revoke its licenses, citing failure to pay licensing fees as well as the Universal Service Fund (USF) levy.

The Communications Authority also rejected a proposed debt repayment arrangement totaling Ksh48 million in regulatory fees.

Director General David Mugonyi noted that the Authority had previously issued six-month revocation warnings in September 2024, which lapsed on March 24, 2025.

He emphasized that the company was expected to either clear the outstanding amount in full or present an acceptable payment plan before the deadline.

Mugonyi added that the Authority would proceed with publishing a Gazette notice to officially revoke all broadcast licenses held by Standard Group PLC.

"This letter is to notify you that the Authority is moving forward with the publication of a notice in the Kenya Gazette to revoke all broadcast licences granted to Standard Group PLC," said the CA Director General.

Standard Group’s Chief Executive Editor, Chaacha Mwita, pushed back against the claims made by the Communications Authority, while admitting that the company had accumulated Ksh48 million in license fee arrears due to tough economic conditions.

Mwita explained that the amount had been substantially reduced following a formal repayment agreement signed in December 2024.

According to Standard Group, the agreement outlined a monthly payment plan, with the company remitting Ksh10 million in December 2024, followed by Ksh4 million in both January and February 2025.

Despite the repayment arrangement, the Communications Authority went ahead with issuing a notice to revoke all of Standard Group’s broadcasting licenses.

Mwita characterized the move as a deliberate effort by the government to silence the media house after its recent investigative reports revealed issues within the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"We entered into an agreement with the Communications Authority to pay Sh2.5 million per month towards settling this debt.

"And we even increased that amount to Ksh4 million per month," Mwita explained.

“We have been faithfully adhering to that payment plan. Therefore, any action beyond this feels like it’s driven by ill-will and malice, and we have no choice but to challenge it.”

Mwita also reiterated that Standard Group would not be intimidated or pressured into abandoning its bold and independent journalism.

This action by the Communications Authority follows the cancellation of Standard Group's media contract with the Ministry of Irrigation by former Broadcasting Principal Secretary Edward Kisiang’ani.

This came despite the media house being competitively selected to lead a campaign for the launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan.

Standard Group had been chosen alongside other media outlets, including Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Nation Media Group (NMG), Cape Media, and The Star, to manage the campaign for the launch of the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP).

A letter from the Ministry of ICT, addressed to Irrigation Principal Secretary Ephantus Kimotho, confirmed that these four media houses had been approved to run the campaign.