Radio Africa Group

Radio Africa Group was co‐founded in 2000 by Patrick Quarcoo—who had previously worked as a journalist for international outlets including Reuters in Uganda—and William Pike, a British journalist and then an editor at Reuters.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-03 |title=Meet Ghanaian Mogul Behind Kiss, Classic, Radio Jambo & More - Business Today Kenya |url=https://businesstoday.co.ke/meet-ghanaian-mogul-behind-kiss-classic-radio-jambo-more/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Business Today |language=en-US}} The group’s inaugural station was Kiss 100, which quickly became one of Nairobi’s top youth‐oriented channels.{{Cite web |last=Waruguru |first=Grace |date=2020-10-20 |title=Who is Patrick Quarcoo? Meet the Radio Africa Group CEO - Tuko.co.ke |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/385623-who-patrick-quarcoo-meet-radio-africa-group-ceo.html |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=www.tuko.co.ke |language=en}} In the 2000s the company expanded into classic hits (Classic 105), Swahili news and sports (Radio Jambo),{{Cite web |last=Khamati |first=Amanda |date=2014 |title=DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE OF RADIO AFRICA LIMITED IN KENYA |url=https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/75191/Amanda_%20Diversification%20strategy%20and%20performance%20of%20radio%20Africa%20limited%20in%20Kenya%20.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=University of Nairobi |page=30}} Asian‐community broadcasting (East FM),{{Cite web |last=Njeri |first=Fiona |date=2025-02-10 |title=Radio Africa's EAST FM Celebrates Its 27th Birthday in Style |url=https://www.mpasho.co.ke/news/2025-02-10-radio-africas-east-fm-celebrates-its-27th-birthday-in-style |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Mpasho |language=en}} rock music (X FM),{{Cite web |last=Mwendwa |first=George |date=2020-07-05 |title=Niche radios feeling the heat? |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/buzz/niche-radios-feeling-the-heat--157722 |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}} and smooth jazz/adult contemporary (Smooth FM).{{Cite web |last=Samora |first=Mr |date=2019-03-18 |title=Radio Africa Group Launches New Radio Station, Smooth FM |url=https://www.kenyanvibe.com/radio-africa-group-launches-new-radio-station-smooth-fm/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=KenyanVibe |language=en-US}}

In 2007, the group also established the Nairobi Star,{{Cite web |last=Kihuria |first=Njonjo |date=2019-01-19 |title=The Day The Star Was Born In 2007 |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sasa/2015-07-01-the-day-the-star-was-born-in-2007 |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=The Star |language=en}} a tabloid that rebranded in 2009 to The Star (Kenya),{{Cite web |last=Kinyanjui |first=Moses |date=2024-12-26 |title=Boxing Day: The only day Kenyans cannot access newspapers |url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/boxing-day-the-only-day-kenyans-cannot-access-newspapers-n355037 |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Citizen Digital |language=en-KE}} a daily newspaper with a focus on political coverage.

In 2014, Radio Africa Group launched Bamba TV, a free‐to‐air digital television platform, marking its first foray into television.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-12-22 |title=Radio Africa enters digital TV market - Business Today Kenya |url=https://businesstoday.co.ke/radio-africa-enters-digital-tv-market/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Business Today |language=en-US}}

• Kiss 100 FM – Contemporary youth‐oriented music and entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Ndunyu |first=Jason |date=2025-04-25 |title=Job Losses as Radio Africa Group Sacks 27 Employees |url=https://thekenyatimes.com/jobs-careers/job-losses-as-radio-africa-fires-27-employees/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Kenya Times |language=en}}
• Classic 105 – Classic hits and talk shows.
• Radio Jambo – Swahili‐language news and sports.
• East FM – Programming for the Kenyan Asian community
• X FM – Rock music (currently inactive/rebranded)
• Smooth FM – Smooth jazz and adult contemporary.

• Bamba TV – Free‐to‐air digital television channel offering news, entertainment, and sports programming.

• The Star – Daily newspaper covering politics, business, and general news.

Radio Africa Group operates or has operated a suite of news websites and streaming services, including:

• Radio Africa Digital News.{{Cite web |last=Kipkemoi |first=Felix |date=2025-04-02 |title=Radio Africa Group’s Multiverse CMS shortlisted in Digital Media Africa Awards |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-04-02-radio-africa-groups-multiverse-cms-shortlisted-in-digital-media-awards |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Star |language=en}}
• Kiss TV now defunct (online streaming).{{Cite web |last=Kimuyu |first=Hilary |date=2023-03-17 |title=Radio Africa shuts down loss-making Kiss TV |url=https://nairobinews.nation.africa/radio-africa-shuts-down-loss-making-kiss-tv/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Nairobi News |language=en-US}}
• Mobile apps for live radio and podcasts.{{Cite web |last=Etyang |first=Perpetua |date=2024-12-05 |title=Radio Africa’s Songa Play now available for iOS users |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/realtime/2024-12-05-radio-africas-songa-play-now-available-for-ios-users |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The Star |language=en}}

• Patrick Quarcoo – Founder and Group CEO (2000–present)
• William Pike – Co‐founder (2000–present)
• Martin Khafafa – Chief Executive Officer (appointed 2022)

• 2012 GUBA Awards – International Recognition Award to Patrick Quarcoo.{{Cite news |date=2012-12-16 |title=Ghana's Greatest Honoured At Awards Ceremony |url=https://businessghana.com/site/news/opinion/98029/Ghana-s-Greatest-Honoured-At-Awards-Ceremony |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=Business Ghana}}
• Multiple winner of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) station awards.

• Media of Kenya
• List of radio stations in Kenya
• The Star (Kenya)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.radioafricagroup.co.ke/ Official website]

{{Draft categories|

Category:Mass media companies of Kenya

Category:Companies based in Nairobi

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