Who We Are

Our Story

March 31, 2020
Launch of Akili Kids!
Launch of Akili Kids!

Akili Kids! made history as Kenya’s first free-to-air children’s television channel, created to provide safe, fun, and meaningful entertainment for young audiences. From the very beginning, the channel focused on delivering high-quality, educational, and engaging content tailored for Kenyan children and their families, with a strong commitment to learning through entertainment.

April 2020
First Advertisers Come On Board

Soon after launching, Akili Kids! attracted its first major advertisers, marking a strong vote of confidence in the channel’s mission and reach. Early partners included Unilever (Omo), Kenya Wildlife Service, and Reckitt Benckiser.

April 2020
Website Livestream Launch

To expand access and reach more viewers beyond traditional TV, Akili Kids! launched a livestream on its website. This move allowed children and families across Kenya to enjoy the channel’s educational and entertaining content anytime, anywhere, reinforcing its commitment to accessibility and digital inclusion.

June 2020
Recognized for COVID-19 Public Awareness
Recognized for COVID-19 Public Awareness

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Akili Kids! aired a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to educate and inform children and families about safety measures. This important initiative earned Kuza Award recognition, highlighting the channel’s role in promoting public health awareness through responsible and impactful broadcasting.

July 2020
First Geopoll Ratings Confirm Massive Reach

Building on its early success, Akili Kids! received its first Geopoll ratings, revealing an impressive weekly audience of 5.4 million child viewers and 4.3 million adult viewers. This milestone confirmed the channel’s strong national reach and growing reputation as Kenya’s leading family-friendly TV destination.

February 2021
Nationwide Expansion Through Multiple Platforms

As part of its continued growth, Akili Kids! expanded its distribution by joining major broadcast and digital platforms, including DStv, GOtv, Zuku, Startimes, Free-to-Air, K24+, and Baze by Safaricom. This strategic move made the channel’s educational and entertaining content even more accessible to children and families across Kenya, reaching a wider and more diverse audience.

June 2021
Recognized for Positive Social Impact

An Impact Report by Acumen and 60db recognized Akili Kids! for its significant positive social impact. The report showcased a remarkable Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 93 and highlighted the channel’s contributions to literacy, math skills, and socio-emotional learning. It also underscored Akili Kids!’ vital role in providing complementary education during the COVID-19 school closures, reinforcing its value to Kenyan families and educators.

July 2021
Milestones in Audience Growth and Content Delivery

Akili Kids! celebrated major achievements, including 100,000 Facebook followers, 50,000 unique contacts, and over 1,300 half-hour shows aired. These milestones reflected the channel’s growing influence, strong audience engagement, and continued dedication to providing quality family-friendly content across Kenya.

December 3, 2021
Launch of Akili Fam Evening Programming Block
Launch of Akili Fam Evening Programming Block

Akili Kids! introduced Akili Fam, a dedicated evening programming block airing Fridays and Saturdays from 6 PM to 10 PM. Featuring carefully curated family-friendly shows, this initiative was designed to foster shared quality entertainment, bringing children and parents together to enjoy meaningful and engaging content.

May 2022
Double Kuza Awards Win
Double Kuza Awards Win

Reflecting its growing impact and excellence, Akili Kids! won two prestigious Kuza Awards: the Ubora Award for Excellence and Best Local Children’s Programming in Kenya. These accolades highlighted the channel’s unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality, educational, and culturally relevant content tailored specifically for Kenyan children.