Kenya Television Network (KTN) is among the three leading Television channels in Kenya ranking in the same category as Citizen TV and NTV. The Standard Group owned TV Channel was the first independent broadcaster in Kenya and has grown to enjoy millions of viewership from across the country. However many Kenyans do not know where its journey actually began.
In this article, WoK brings you the story of Jared Kangwana – the man who founded KTN.
Jared Kangwana Establishing KTN
During the KANU regime, news was controlled by the state and aired by one station, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). Jared Kangwana was tired of the monopoly and dared to change the narrative and in March 1990 he established Kenya Television Network (KTN).
The station would become the first free-to-air privately owned television network not only in Kenya but Africa. After its launch, it would start broadcasting programs from CNN, MTV and other major television networks.
It would get its revenue from advertisements and TV production services. The major breakthrough came in 1992 when it won the bid to carry the 1992 Summer Olympics and the rights to air several other major international events.
The Take-over of KTN
The TV Station would then grow to attract bids for joint ownership from Maxwell communications in London, MNET in South Africa and the then ruling party KANU.
The ruling regime would then begin sanctioning the station and issuing orders to the editors to censor government related news or surrender the station to the regime as reported by Wikipedia.
However, Jared Kangwana wasn’t willing to give in to the demands of the State. In October 1993, police officers boarded a commercial flight, sieved Kangwana’s passport and prevented him from leaving the country for a business trip.
The enterpreneur revealed that the act was part of the government’s intimidation strategy to have him surrender ownership of KTN to the KANU regime. The government never took any action against him but succeeded in forcing him to relinquish control of the station to the regime. The station is currently under the Standard Group which is associated with the Moi Family.
Jared Kangwana Businesses
Jared Kangwana is the man behind Anglo-African Property Holdings (AAPPH) – a real estate company that was listed in the Growth Enterprises Market Segment (GEMS) at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in 2016.
The company owns lucrative properties such as The Mall in Westlands, Chester House in the CBD, Impala Ecolodge in Kisumu and owns a 0.8 acre prime plot of land in Upperhill, opposite Citibank. According to its website, the company’s aggregate net assets stands at Ksh 2.4 billion run by 179 staff.
Kangwana’s family is at the helm of its leadership with Biki Kangwana serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tabitha Kangwana as a non-executive director, Frank Ireri as a non-executive director and Mr Kangwana, a former board member at the CMA, is the chairman as reported by Business Daily.
According to the publication, Jared Kangwana is the face behind Maisha Microfinance Bank which was established in 2016. The financial institution has six directors including Beatrice Shabana, Kamal Shah and Prof Alejandro Lago.
He owns Monarch Group – a conglomerate which owns Monarch Insurance and has its headquarters at Chester house along Koinange Street. He also owns Kamu Company Limited which owns a number of properties in Kitengela including an 80 acres piece of land.
