Radio47 rises among Kenya’s top radio stations, IPSOS report
Radio Citizen dropped its share to 17.3 per cent in the first four months of 2025 compared to the last four months of 2024
Kenya’s radio landscape remains fiercely competitive, with stations battling for audience attention.
The latest data reveals key insights into which stations dominate in reach (percentage of people who tune in) and share (percentage of total listening time).
Radio47 has rose to number two nationwide behind Radio Citizen which has dominated Kenya’s airwaves for over two decades.
The latest Kenya Audience Tracker report for quarter 1 of 2025 by research firm IPSOS, Radio 47’s share has grown to 7.5 per cent behind Citizen Radio’s 17.3 per cent nationally.
In radio terms, share is a percentage of total listening time and means people stay longer and find a particular radio station more engaging. If the number is low, the radio station is likely not interesting.
In quarter four of 2024, Radio47 was share (percentage of listening time) was at 5.5per cent behind Citizen Radio 20.8per cent, Kameme Radio 7.5per cent, Radio Jambo 7.2per cent and Ramogi FM 6.7 per cent in that order.
Radio Citizen dropped its share to 17.3 per cent in the first four months of 2025 compared to the last four months of 2024.
Kameme FM 6.9per cent, Radio Jambo 6.1 per cent and Ramogi FM 6.1 per cent also experienced a drop in audience listening time (share) in the first four months (quarter) of 2025.
The report by IPSOS thus indicates that Radio47 owned by Cape Media ltd and established 2 years ago, was the only radio station among Kenya’s top radio’s to grow their market share.
In terms of reach- which is a measure of percentage of people who tune into a particular radio station over time the research shows a drop by all major radio stations between the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 with only Radio47 and Kameme FM showing growth.
Radio Citizen dropped from 10.4per cent to 9.3, Radio Jambo dropped from 4.7per cent to 3.2per cent and Radio Maisha dropped from 2.7per cent to 2.4per cent.
Kameme FM and Radio47 grew from 2.7 per cent to 2.9 per cent while Radio47 grew from 2.5 per cent to 2.7 per cent.
According to the research by IPSOS Radio remains a dominant medium in rural areas, but urban listenership is significant, especially for stations like Radio 47, which has a strong Nairobi presence.
Its strongest regions are Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast regions.
Established in 2023, Radio47 which is associated with Mount Kenya University Founder Prof Simon Gicharu, has been demonstrating an aggressive growth strategy.
The station has been hiring top talent from rival radio stations.
Some of the notebale names who have joined include Emmanuel Mwashumbe, Alex Mwakideu, Ali Kauleni, Comedian and presenter Ofweneke, Fred Arocho and gospel presenter Eva Mwalili among others.
