Moi seeks to restrict language broadcasts

Limited choices for Kenya's broadcasters

The Kenyan Government is preparing to ban independent radio broadcasts in any language other than English or Swahili.

On Thursday, President Daniel arap Moi ordered Information Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Attorney-General Amos Wako to draft a law forcing private radio stations to broadcast only in Kenya's two official languages - and not the multitude of other tongues spoken in various regions.

Three recently-established private vernacular-language radio stations are expected to be particularly badly hit.

Moi: Vernacular broadcasts undermine national unity

President Moi said private radio stations must use English or Swahili to promote national unity - but the proposed new law has been interpreted as a means of containing criticism of the government.

Speaking in Mombasa, the president charged that vernacular radio promoted tribal chauvinism and undermined national cohesion.

He said that speakers of the main vernacular languages were adequately served by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, "which ensures that national unity is not undermined".

Tribalism, he said, was the root cause of instability in many African countries and should be fought at all costs.

Popular station

Kameme FM, which opened only six months ago, is the biggest of the three stations that would be affected by the proposed laws.

Broadcasting in Kikuyu - Kenya's most widely-spoken vernacular language - it is believed to have become one of the most popular radio stations in and around Nairobi.

East FM, based in Nairobi, targets a largely Indian audience with broadcasts in Hindi and English.

Rehema Radio, based in the western town of Eldoret, broadcasts mostly religious programmes in the Kalenjin language.

While most Kenyans can speak fluent Swahili, and many speak English as well, vernacular languages are still significant as a badge of ethnic identity.

Only in the coastal region is Swahili regarded as a mother tongue.