Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) to get new Managing Director

Poghisio to name new KBC boss ‘by end of this week’

By Okuttah Mark

Posted Tuesday, November 2 2010 at 19:25

The new Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) managing director may be known by this Friday, a move likely to end speculation over the position.

The names of the three candidates short-listed by the KBC board chaired by Mr Charles Muoki, were forwarded to Information minister Samuel Poghisio almost three weeks ago.

Thirty-seven candidates are said to have applied for the job, but only eight were short-listed for interviews.

The three candidates under consideration are Mr Waithaka Waihenya, the acting KBC managing director; Mr Katua Nzile, a managing editor at KTN; and Ms Ann Njagi of Royal Media.

On Tuesday, Mr Poghisio acknowledged receiving the names.

“Three names were sent to my ministry while I was away in Mexico and a decision has not been made. I will make the announcement as soon as possible, probably by the end of this week,” said Mr Poghisio.

The minister could, however, not disclose who among the three is likely to be selected.

The KBC position fell vacant after the former managing director, Mr David Waweru, was sent home over controversy surrounding the broadcast of the World Cup football matches.

The government is said to have paid Sh75 million to secure a deal on the promise that KBC would look for sponsorship to recover the money.

Naming of the chief executive is critical to the corporation as it comes at a time when KBC is looked upon by other broadcasters to steer the country in the migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

KBC formed a subsidiary, Signet, a few months ago to offer infrastructure distribution on a commercial basis.
The company will be responsible for digital signal distribution to all broadcasters.

Private financing

Kenya has set 2012 as the deadline for migration from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The government also indicated in July that it is in the process of splitting KBC into two — private and public — as a means of sustaining the corporation.

The move is aimed at making KBC more competitive while at the same time protecting its mandate of informing the public without the headache of pursuing profits.

The split has also been informed by the quest to have a commercial wing that is free of debt and tap into private financing from banks and the capital markets.