It is an open secret that the Kenyan media save for a few, is currently dominated by politicians who use these media platforms to drive their respective political agendas to the masses.
The Kikuyu media when it comes to this aspect is no different. Below is a list of five Kikuyu radio stations owned by politicians or have links to politicians.
1. Kameme FM
The Kikuyu mother radio station under the Mediamax Network Limited is owned by among others President Uhuru Kenyatta's family and his deputy William Ruto who reportedly bought a controlling stake recently.
2. Inooro FM
The station is owned by Royal Media Services which is in turn owned by media mogul SK Macharia. Unknown to many, Macharia is a politician though not active in the country's day-to-day politics.
In 1997 General Elections, Macharia vied unsuccessfully for the Gatanga parliamentary seat. The launch of his media empire in 1999 was inspired by politics.
Macharia was once quoted in the media saying that he started Radio Citizen (Inooro FM's sister radio station) in 1999 after the national broadcaster, KBC, refused to air campaign messages for his preferred presidential candidate, the late Kenneth Matiba during the 1992 general elections.
3. Mururi FM
The radio station that started as Bahasha FM before changing its name to Countryside FM and finally Mururi FM is owned by former Naivasha MP John Mututho.
The station which is always on and off air due to among other reasons poor management and haemorrhaging of talents is based in Kileleshwa, Nairobi but has no Nairobi frequency.
4. Rware FM
The Nyeri Town-based radio station is owned by former Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi. It broadcasts in Nyeri County and its environs.
5. Iganjo FM
The yet-to-be-launched Kikuyu radio station but currently on air via 94.6FM in Nairobi and its environs is owned Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirichi and her husband.