Top radio stations in Kenya: A new study has pegged Radio Citizen as the most-listened Radio station in Kenya giving credence to the immense work and resources that the owners of the station and presenters have invested. The study conducted by research firm Geopoll between the period of May 1st – to May 14th showed that Radio citizen received the highest nationwide listenership at 13% …followed by Radio Maisha at 10% and Radio Jambo was third at 9% while classic fm was 4th nationally at 4%.
The research, which interviewed both males and females, found that both genders spent quality time listening to Radio stations, but they were inclined to different shows and programs. Men for instances listened to Politics and sports commentaries while women preferred shows that explored relationship issues, personal health and other contemporary issues.
Radio citizen, however, still topped amongst males and females with 13% of men listening to the station owned by Royal Media, while 12% of women were ardent fans of it. When asked the reason they preferred the station over others, both genders explained that the station had diverse shows and programs that attracted them. Women mostly preferred listening to the Mid-morning show of Jerida Andayi and the afternoon session of titi nangwal while men listened to Kamau Munyua at night and Vincent Ateya in the morning. The youth population listened to Willy M-Tuva.
Among this listeners.72% were aged 35yrs and above while 25% were aged 24-34yrs. The remaining listeners were in the age bracket of 15-24 yrs.
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Radio Jambo was ranked second highest among males with 10% while Radio Maisha scooped the second places accolades amongst females at the same percentage share of 10%. Radio Maisha took the third place amongst males at 9% while classic FM took the third position amongst females at 8%.
Top 10 radio station nationally
| Radio station | Total share% | Male% | Female% | |
| 1 | Radio Citizen | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| 2 | Radio Maisha | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| 3 | Radio Jambo | 9 | 10 | 7 |
| 4 | Classic FM | 4 % | 5 | 8 |
| 5 | Milele FM | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Kiss FM | 3 | – | – |
| 7 | KBC Idhaa ya Taifa | 3 | – | – |
| 8 | Hot 96 | 2 | – | – |
| 9 | KBC English Service | 1 | – | – |
| 10 | Kameme FM | 1 | – | – |
When it comes to language oriented radio stations, Kiswahili FMs takes home the highest chunk of listeners at 43 per cent while the English channels take 33 % with vernacular stations taking up 24%. This, According to the Colorado based research firm Geopoll, shows the popularity of Kiswahili language in Kenya while also indicating the literacy levels among the populace in the country.
Kiswahili stations in the top 10 list nationally (Citizen, Radio Jambo, Radio Maisha, Milele and KBC ) had a cumulative 39% share nationally amongst people aged 15+ years.
Generally, the study on the top radio stations in Kenya established that Kiswahili remains the preferred language of broadcast nationally, and across different age groups, it is observed that 46% of radio share for listeners aged 35 years is from stations broadcasting in Kiswahili.
And while young people (those aged between 15-24yrs) prefer to listen to English radio stations at 33%— 2nd to Kiswahili stations—the study found that older people preferred Vernacular stations instead. “Vernacular stations command the second highest listenership amongst older listeners aged 35 years and over, having a 38% share. Only 16% of those aged 35 and older listening to English stations “reported the study.
However, Kameme FM which broadcasts in the kikuyu language was the only radio station to make it in the top ten-list nationally, with a market share of 1%.