Editor's Review

majority of them have found it hard to navigate the competitive media market.

The media industry offers a wide range of opportunities any investor would be willing to give a try.

This explains why the country has witnessed a sporadic rise in the number of radio and TV stations, thanks to the digital migration that made it easier for investors to get started.

With politicians being a class of people who are in need of clout to propel their career further, many have ventured into the media business to not only underwrite their earnings from other ventures but to also build a platform to enhance their political capital.

Though a majority of them have found it hard to navigate the competitive media market, their efforts will one time bear the much-desired results and even create more employments for Kenyan youths.

Here are politicians who have managed to set up a media station:

Purity Ngirici

{Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici. Image: Courtesy}

Operating as Slopes Media House Limited,  Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici and her husband Andrew Ngirici are the founders of Mt Kenya Tv.

She made headlines after she poached nearly half of Inooro TV journalists in 2018 with a promise of hefty pay only to end up throwing them under the bus.

The station has also been marred with controversies with the latest one being the April's Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) decision to close it temporarily for a month for airing sexually explicit content.

Moses Kuria

{Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. Image: Courtesy}

He is the founder of Fanaka TV. The station was established in 2017 as an entertainment television that will provide job opportunities for the youth.

The station has however had a bumpy ride in its quest to solidify itself in the Kenyan media industry.

A scan through the station's social media channel shows that the station's operations stalled since March 2019 and it is not clear whether it stopped operating.

 Kalonzo Musyoka 

{Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka. Image: Courtesy}

He is said to be the owner of Athiani Fm.

It is a Kamba radio station that churns out content that is consumed and relevant to the Akamba community.

The station operates from the Mihrab Building along Lenana Road, Nairobi.

Chirau Ali Makwere

{Former Cabinet Minister Chrau Ali Mwakere.Image: Courtesy}

He owns Kaya Fm that operates from the coastal region.

It has been on the air for more than a decade having been established in 2007. It focuses on content that is relevant to the coastal people.

Mohamed Ali

{Nyali MP Mohamed Ali. Image: Courtesy}

The veteran journalist-cum-politician has taken a cue from a host of politicians by recently founding his radio station christened MO Radio.

The station is based in Mombasa and in less than a year since it began its operations, it has already hosted Deputy President William Ruto.

Odinga Family

The family is said to be the owner of Radio Nam Lolwe FM (RNL) which broadcasts in the Dholuo language.

The station which operates under Neural Digital Broadcaster Limited has also been linked to former Gem MP the late Jakoyo Midiwo. Midiwo is a cousin to the ODM leader Raila Odinga.