List of all Swahili radio stations in Kenya and their frequencies

As you know, one’s mother tongue is their first language, and for Kenya, Swahili is her first language. Swahili as the native language is spoken widely across the country and finds its heart in Kenya’s coastal region. It has been incorporated into various sectors as a national language, including the entertainment industry. In addition, there are several Swahili radio stations in Kenya that people can listen to wherever they are as they keep up the daily hustles.

To maintain its ethnic language, Kenyan schools teach Kiswahili and offer specialized courses at higher education levels for mastery of the language. Foreigners also embrace the language when they tour the country by quickly learning to blend well with Kenyan citizens.

Swahili radio stations in Kenya

If you don’t understand English or you’re a patriotic Kenyan who believes in speaking your native language, you haven’t been completely locked out of the radio listeners group. As much as English radio stations are the most popular and there is a high rise of vernacular radio stations, there is something in place for you, Swahili radio stations.

There are several stations in Kenya distributed across various counties. Therefore, you can listen to Swahili radio stations in Nairobi and other parts of the country. Additionally, you can tune in from your computer or smartphone and listen to the Swahili radio online. Here’s a list of radio stations in Kenya that present in Swahili.

1. Radio Citizen - Chemi Chemi Ya Ukweli

Radio Citizen is the number one Swahili radio station in Kenya. With coverage in most of the major towns in Kenya, it has the biggest audience. Radio Citizen was rated the first radio station since it has the highest listenership among other radio stations.

The broadcast targets the ordinary citizen and offers variety in the news, engaging talk shows, African tunes, and games. It's famous for shows such as Roga Roga, Yaliyotendeka, Jambo Kenya, Chapa Kazi, and Drive on. Its frequencies across the country include:

• Nairobi- 106.7 FM
• Mombasa- 97.3 FM
• Kisumu- 97.6 FM
• Nakuru- 100.5 FM
• Eldoret- 87.0 FM
• Nyeri-104.3
• Voi- 98.1
• Garissa- 95.7
• Chuka-93.7
• Meru- 94.3
• Kitui- 89.9

You can visit their website to tune in to the Swahili radio online.

2. Milele FM - Home of African Hits

The Mediamax Network radio station is also a top dog in the entertainment industry. In 2020, it ranked as the second-best Swahili radio station in Kenya after being 4th in 2019, beating Radio Maisha and Radio Jambo. This proves it’s a radio starts worth listening to as you go about your business.

The station's shows are lively and feature news, music, and entertainment. Having award-winning reporters has seen the show win several awards over the years. In addition, it has managed to penetrate countrywide with coverage in the following areas:

• 88.3 Kapenguria
• 89.7 Taita Taveta/Voi/Vuria Hill
• 91.3 Kitui (eas)
• 91.7 Nyeri/Hill (cen)
• 92.7 Webuye (wes)
• 95.1 Kisii/Nyangururu
• 96.7 Mombasa/Mazeras (coa)
• 98.7 Narok (rif)
• 99.7 Kisumu/Kiboswa (nyz)
• 100.2 Nakuru (rif)
• 100.2 Nyahururu/Nyadundo (cen)
• 101.5 Meru/Nyambene Hills (eas)
• 103.1 Eldoret (rif)
• 104.3 Kibwezi (eas)
• 104.8 Nairobi
• 104.8 Limuru/Valley Road (cen)
• 107.8 Kericho (rif)

You can also be a listener of Milele FM by tuning in online so that you don’t miss out on the shows.

3. Radio Maisha - Tuko Mbele Pamoja

The Standard Group’s Swahili station is renowned for having one of the best Kiswahili radio presenters who flood it with listeners from all over the country. It’s the third-best Swahili radio station in Kenya, and tuning in will not be a waste of your time.

The shows range from entertainment, sports, news to music. They include:

• Konnect
• Maisha Countdown
• Maisha Kilimo
• Safari
• Nuru Ya Lugha
• Maisha Asubuhi
• Reggae Splash

The Radio Maisha Frequencies are as follows:

• Nairobi 102.7
• Mombasa 105.1
• Kisumu 105.3
• Nyeri 105.7
• Meru 105.1
• Nakuru 104.5
• Malindi 108.3
• Webuye 95.9
• Garissa 88.7
• Voi and Taita Taveta 107.4
• Narok 102.3
• Kisii 91.3
• Kericho 90.5
• Eldoret 91.1
• Marsabit 88.3
• Turkana 93.1

You can keep tabs on the latest information from the station by listening live from wherever you are.

4. Radio Jambo - Ongea Uskike

You wouldn’t want to miss out on the most popular Kiswahili radio show hosted on Radio Jambo. The station is famed and crowned for its show, Patanisho, hosted by Joseph Oyoo and Jacob Mulee, alias Gidi a Ghost.

It also has other programs that constitute entertainment, news, sports and information. Among its shows are Maskani, Injili Jumapili and Pembe Za Kenya. Radio Jambo frequencies are:

• Kisumu 100.1
• Mombasa 92.3
• Nakuru 96.9
• Eldoret 99.5
• Nyeri 99.3
• Nyahururu 97.3
• Webuye 95.3
• Meru 92.7
• Kitui 104.9
• Kibwezi 104.7
• Voi 105.7
• Malindi 98.1
• Lamu 104.7
• Narok 97.3
• Kapenguria 99.7
• Kisii 89.3
• Garissa 104.3
• Maralal 97.3
• Lodwar 92.7

You can listen to the Swahili radio station online by logging in to their website and playing the live stream.

5. Pwani FM- Tafrija Kipwani!

At the heart of the Kiswahili language lies a Swahili radio station loved by the coastal people. Pwani FM has the most fluent Kiswahili radio presenters, so if you’re looking to listen to a station that will sharpen and improve your Swahili, this is the one.

Being a coastal radio station, it has frequencies in only three areas, Mombasa 103.1 FM, Malindi 93.7 FM, and Taita Taveta 103.7 FM. You can listen to it online as well through radio.or.ke.

6. KBC Radio Taifa - Sauti ya Mkenya

When talking about a legendary radio station, you should refer to Radio Taifa. It’s hosted at the founding media station, KBC, and was established in 1953. If anything, this station will provide you with necessary Swahili news, entertainment, and sports since it was formed to serve Kenyans who majorly spoke and understood Kiswahili at the time. The station’s frequencies are:

• Nyeri/Hill 87.6
• Kisumu/Kiboswa 88.6
• Timboroa 88.6
• Lodwar 88.6
• Garissa 89.9
• Meru/Nyambene Hills 90.4
• Nairobi/Limuru 92.9
• Wajir 92.9
• Eldoret/Siani 93.3
• Malindi 96.5
• Taita Taveta/Voi/Vuria Hill 96.9
• Mombasa/Mazeras 100.7
• Kisumu/Kiboswa 100.9
• Kisii/Nyangururu 103.3
• Nakuru/Menengai Hill 104.1
• Kisumu/Kiboswa 104.5

7. Radio Safari- Safiri Nasi

If you are in the environs of Kitale, Trans Nzoia county, you can’t afford to miss listening to this Swahili radio station. It has established itself to be a leading, reliable, fair and fast-growing station since 2018. You can tune in on 89.7 FM and online on radiosafari.co.ke.

8. Radio Simba- Sauti Ya Jamii

The western region is also well represented with this Swahili radio station based in Bungoma, targeting Western, Rift Valley, and Nyanza regions. The station broadcasts updates, information, music, news, entertainment and educational matters. You can tune in to 91.3 FM or visit their website to listen live.

9. Sema FM- Sauti Ya Vijanaa

The Swahili radio station is based in Webuye and has presenters passionate about entertaining their listeners in the best possible way. Sema FM is broadcasted on 98.3 FM and is also listened to live online.

Even though English radio stations have populated the airwaves, there are Swahili radio stations you can listen to as you go about your day. They are also good if you’re looking to switch between English and Swahili stations. The stations are also available online; therefore, you can listen to them anywhere and at any time.

Tuko.co.ke shared an article on the top 15 free to air decoders in Kenya. The decoders ensure you enjoy your favourite channels without paying monthly subscription fees. This is a huge relief to many Kenyans who are overburdened by monthly bills such as water and electricity.

Digital TV migration in Kenya does not mean that you have to pay to watch TV. The free to air decoders in Kenya relieve you of the stress of incurring monthly bills. If the thought of paying to watch TV does not add up, then go ahead and choose the decoder that suits your needs and budget.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tcHKqGWcp16gsnCAkWxqamtdoba0wIysrpqgmaG2br7AnaCoZaOprrW1zqeqZqOVo8aiecWrnKqtlaOwqrHSZ5%2BtpZw%3D