A viral social media notice claiming that the prominent Kenyan media company Mediamax Network Limited is taking its leading vernacular radio station, Kameme FM, off the air for 30 days is entirely false, according to an investigation by independent fact-checking organization Africa Check.
The fabricated notice, which circulated extensively on Facebook, featured a forged signature of Mediamax CEO Ken Ngaruiya alongside the company’s official corporate logo.
The document alleged that the Kikuyu-language station would halt all broadcasting and digital operations for a month starting June 18, 2026, supposedly in response to a regulatory “show cause” notice from the Media Council of Kenya (MCK).
However, Africa Check confirmed that the notice is a complete hoax. Mediamax management flagged the graphic as fraudulent on its official platforms, printing “FAKE NEWS” in bold red text across the image.
Furthermore, live broadcast monitoring confirmed that Kameme FM remained fully online and operational past the rumored shutdown date.
The online misinformation gained traction following a genuine regulatory advisory. On June 15, 2026, the MCK released an incident report concerning politically sensitive, live on-air commentary broadcasted on the station between June 8 and June 15.
The segment featured popular presenters Muthoni wa Kirumba and Chef Gathemba alongside politician Paul Waiganjo, sparking intense public debate and prompt scrutiny over media compliance guidelines.
While the MCK found that the live segment may have partially breached information verification standards outlined in the Code of Conduct for Media Practice 2025, no broadcasting suspension was ordered by the regulator or enacted by Mediamax.
As part of its findings, Africa Check emphasized that major vernacular outlets hold immense political and social influence in Kenya, frequently making them targets for sophisticated digital disinformation campaigns designed to confuse audiences.
Africa Check YouTube Verification Project provides a wider look at the continuous public appearances and media discussions involving high-profile Kenyan broadcasters like Muthoni Kirumba.