President William Ruto’s nominee for Principal Secretary of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Isaboke, is facing heat over his acquisition of Ksh5.2 million shares in GOtv Kenya, a subsidiary of MultiChoice Africa Group.
During his vetting by the National Assembly Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation, chaired by Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, questions were raised on whether his stake in GOtv a conflict of interest could be if he’s appointed to oversee Kenya’s broadcasting and telecommunications sectors.
Committee Wants Him Blocked
A formal memorandum seeking to block his approval had been submitted to the committee, citing integrity and potential conflict of interest arising from his business ties with MultiChoice. The concerns stem from his previous role as a Director at GOtv Kenya, a company regulated by the very ministry he may soon help oversee.
Isaboke confirmed he had resigned from his directorship at GOtv immediately after his nomination, as required by law.
“Upon my nomination as PS, I stepped down as Director of GOtv Kenya, as required by law,” he said, assuring the panel of his commitment to ethical governance.
Share Acquisition Was Legal and Above Board
Isaboke defended the acquisition of his shares, saying it was lawful, transparent and the result of long negotiations. He explained that from 2012 to 2021, MultiChoice was operating under regulatory waivers that allowed foreign ownership above the 80% threshold while it sought a local partner to meet Kenya’s foreign ownership laws in the broadcasting sector.
“There was nothing irregular about acquiring these shares. The process was above board and necessary to bring the company into compliance,” he said.
Initially, MultiChoice had approached the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) as its preferred local partner. However, after nearly a decade of unsuccessful negotiations and the waiver period expiring in 2021, Isaboke said he stepped in to fill the gap through a mutual business agreement.
“An opportunity arose and after rigorous talks we reached an agreement. I paid Ksh5.2 million out of a total nominal value of Ksh17 million to acquire the shares,” he said.
Past Contributions to Kenya’s Digital Transition
Isaboke also mentioned his contributions to Kenya’s digital migration. He said during his time at MultiChoice, he was part of the team that helped Kenya transition from analogue to digital broadcasting.
“In 2015, while at MultiChoice, we supported the government in a successful digital migration. We gave Kenyans affordable decoders and Kenya became one of the most digitalized countries in the world,” he said.
Industry Experience
Isaboke has over 10 years of experience in broadcasting and telecommunications. He was Chairman and Non-Executive Director of GOtv Kenya and previously held senior executive roles at the MultiChoice Group including:
Group Executive and Head of Regulatory Affairs for Sub-Saharan Africa overseeing 48 countries from Dubai.
Managing Director and Regional Director for East Africa at MultiChoice Africa (2008–2018).