Apply for a radio frequency licence (private radio network, two-way radio, alarm network)
Communications Authority of Kenya · sources read 2 Oct 2026
Fill CA's Form CA-F-FSM-01 (and FSM-03 with your network details), attach a letter, an affidavit and your company documents, and send it to CA's Frequency Spectrum Management with the KSh 1,000 application fee. If approved you pay yearly frequency fees per station (for example KSh 5,000 for a VHF/UHF base and KSh 2,900 per handheld), due before 30 June each year.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Application fee (non-refundable)KSh 5,000Fixed/base/repeater station, VHF/UHF (per year)KSh 2,900Mobile (vehicle) station, VHF/UHF (per year)KSh 2,900Portable (handheld) station, VHF/UHF (per year)KSh 18,700Fixed/base/repeater station, HF (per year)KSh 5,610Mobile station, HF (per year)KSh 1,250Alarm unit (per unit per year, charged in blocks of 5)
- Deadline
- Annual frequency fees are due before 30 June each year.
- Where
- Frequency Spectrum Management, 1st Floor, CA Centre, Waiyaki Way, Nairobi, or by email to freqlicensingfsm@ca.go.ke
What you need
- Form CA-F-FSM-01 (Application to Establish a Radio Network)
- Form CA-F-FSM-03 for the voice network (and another for an alarm network, if any)
- A letter stating why you need the network
- A sworn affidavit listing your company documents
- Certificate of incorporation, business licence, KRA PIN certificate and Tax Compliance Certificate
- CR12 issued within the last 2 months, and IDs or passports of directors and shareholders
Steps
- Download Form CA-F-FSM-01 and FSM-03 from CA's Licence Application Forms & Fees page. Ask your radio supplier to help with the technical parts.
- Send the forms and documents to the Director, Frequency Spectrum Management, 1st Floor, CA Centre, Waiyaki Way, or email freqlicensingfsm@ca.go.ke, and pay the KSh 1,000 application fee.
- CA's Licensing Committee (CLC) considers the application. Some need clearance from other government agencies first.
- If approved, CA sends a data form for your equipment details and tells you the frequency fee. Return the form with the fee.
- Pay the annual frequency fees before 30 June every year to keep the licence valid.
Watch out
- Your radios must be type approved by CA. If they aren't, you'll be asked to get type approval before the licence is issued.
- Incomplete or unreadable applications are sent back, so fill every field.
- Building a temporary network for a construction project? Attach papers showing how long the project will run.
Who can apply
- Anyone who owns or uses radio equipment in Kenya needs a CA licence and must keep it paid up.
- A private radio network is for talking within your own group (staff, guards, site teams), not for selling a service to the public.
Official sources (5)
- Licensing Procedures ca.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Procedure for Licensing use of Radio Frequencies ca.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- License Application Forms & Fees ca.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Application to Establish a Radio Network Form (CA-F-FSM-01) ca.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Frequency Spectrum Fee Schedule Effective July 2018 ca.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026