An Amateur Radio Station Licence permits hobbyists in Kenya to install and operate amateur (“ham”) radio equipment for non-commercial, experimental, and emergency-communication purposes. It is issued by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) via Form CA-F-FSM-02.
CA Fee Schedule for Amateur Radio
| Charge | Amount (KES) |
|---|---|
| Frequency Application Fee | 1,000 (one-time, per application) |
| Annual Radio Amateur Licence Fee (MF/HF) | 2,000 |
| Annual Radio Amateur Licence Fee (VHF/UHF) | 2,000 |
The annual fee is the same regardless of whether the operator uses MF/HF or VHF/UHF bands, making amateur radio one of the more uniformly priced frequency licence categories in Kenya.
Requirements for Licensing
- Passing a recognised amateur radio operator examination/qualification
- Submission of the Amateur Radio Licence Application Form (CA-F-FSM-02)
- Equipment specifications for the station to be licensed
- Compliance with the international amateur radio band plan and call-sign allocation
Related: Citizen Band Radio
Hobbyists interested in lower-power, license-light communication may alternatively consider a Citizen Band (CB) Radio Licence, which carries a simpler one-time fee of KES 1,000 and operates in the 26,925–27,403 kHz band, with no separate annual fee.
Application Process
- Complete the amateur radio qualification/examination process
- Submit Form CA-F-FSM-02 with the KES 1,000 application fee
- CA assigns a call sign and frequency authorisation
- Pay the KES 2,000 annual licence fee each subsequent year
At just KES 1,000 to apply and KES 2,000 a year to maintain, amateur radio remains one of the most affordable regulated hobbies in Kenya, though operators must still pass the required technical qualification before CA will issue a call sign.
