All KENYANS to switch to digital TV set for September 15th

  The Kenyan DAILY TRUTH has learnt that Kenya’s switch from analogue to digital TV has been set for later this year on September 15^th.

The date for this ‘digital migration’ was arrived at today after an intense three-hour meeting between officials of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and the Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK).

Addressing members of the media after the meeting Stephen Mutoro, the COFEK secretary general, said that the consumer body had ironed out its differences with the CCK in terms of pricing, quality and general public awareness before settling on the date;

“The two parties agreed that mechanisms to lower the cost of Set Top Boxes (STBs) be explored further in order that the price comes down significantly,” he said.

“CCK would also address warranty issues and ensure, to extent practicable, availability of sufficient digital signal strengths within Nairobi and outskirts which will be affected in phase one of the planned switch off.”

The deal between the CCK and COFEK gives a reprieve to at least 900,000 analogue TV owners in Nairobi alone who would have been cut out of local TV broadcasts.

Today’s agreement comes just two days after Information PS Bitange Ndemo pleaded with a Nairobi court to make a ruling in a case COFEK had filed against the CCK over the date for the digital migration.