NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 – The State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications has requested Sh853.3 million to clear pending bills owed to media houses and service providers.
Documents submitted to the National Assembly of Kenya show the department plans to pay Sh411 million owed to Nation Media Group for advertising services under the government’s MyGov weekly publication.
Other media firms listed for payment include Standard Group (Sh229 million), Mediamax Network Limited (Sh191 million), Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board (Sh20 million) and Star FM (Sh580,000).
The department reported Sh110 billion in pending bills as of December 31, 2025, including Sh109 billion owed to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.
Additional outstanding bills include conference expenses at Sarova Stanley and Bahari Beach Hotel amounting to Sh510,000 and Sh346,800, respectively.
In its submission to Parliament’s Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovations, the department also sought Sh5.6 billion in additional funding to support key operations in the broadcasting and communications sector.
Budget documents show the department had spent Sh3.49 billion of its Sh4.86 billion allocation for the 2025/26 financial year as of March 10, representing a 71.77 percent utilisation rate.
The ministry’s budget for the year was revised upward from Sh6.55 billion to Sh7.24 billion, with most of the increase directed toward recurrent expenditure to help settle pending bills.
