CHAIRMAN: Rob Linck, 5Z4RL. E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: (+254 2) 350185, 351901; Home 561858.

SECRETARY: Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU. E-mail: [email protected]
Tel./Fax: (+254 2) 891302.

IARU, STELAR and STARS REPRESENTATIVE: Max Raicha, 5Z4MR.
E-mail: [email protected]
Postal address: P.O. Box 1641, Kisumu, Kenya.
Tel: (+254 035) 40906, Home (035) 23501. Fax: (+254 035) 21400

QSL BUREAU: Manager: Waldo Goossen, 5Z4BJ. Address for cards and correspondence: P.O. Box 45681, Nairobi, Kenya.

ARSK NATIONAL IARUMS CO-ORDINATOR: Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU, addresses as above.

HQ & SHACK: On Joseph Kangethe Road, Woodley Estate, Nairobi. (Off the Ngong Road.) Home of the Society station 5Z4RS.

SHACK MEETINGS: Normally the first Saturday of each month at 10 am. Sometimes changed by arrangement as convenient. Visitors are most welcome - contact the Secretary for information. The next scheduled meeting is at 10 am on Saturday, 3rd June.

NETS/BULLETINS: Every Sunday morning on 7075 kHz, 0600Z (0900 local). Run by Hermann Sachse, 5Z4RT. Usually there are about 8 - 12 participants and amateurs in neigbouring countries are welcome to join in when conditions permit.

BEACON: 5Z4B, run by Tony Britchford, 5Z4FZ, at Kilifi on the Coast 60 kms north of Mombasa. Co-ordinates are S.3 37.335 E.039 50.18.

REPEATERS: On 145.775 mHz, -600 offset, in Nairobi. Unserviceable as at 4th April, 2000, awaiting re-installation.

BBS: Nil at present.

PUBLICATIONS: Monthly newsletter "QTC" circulated to members.

AWARDS: The Kenya Award, The Big Five Award. Details from the Secretary.

LICENSING
Kenyans are required to pass the City & Guilds of London RAE, although an equivalent qualification will be considered. The Morse test is set at 12 wpm for the Full license but this is expected to be reduced to 5 wpm in line with world trends. A no-code Intermediate license is available to Kenyans only, giving slightly reduced privileges.

Present rules are that the home countries of non-Kenyan Amateurs seeking Kenya licenses must have a Reciprocal Agreement with Kenya. Kenya has Agreements with the following countries as at 1st April 2000: Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, South Africa, Poland, Malta, Canada, India, Israel, Finland. Negotiations for reciprocal agreements are in progress with USA, Australia, The Netherlands and New Zealand. Regretfully, as at 28th April the US Department of State is reported to have put the pending application for a Reciprocal Agreement on hold pending WARC 2000. License applications can take a long time to process, one to five years not being unusual in the past. After serious negotiations this year it is hoped that the process can now be much quicker. Applications may be sent to to:

The Director General
Communications Commission of Kenya
P.O. Box 14448
Nairobi
KENYA

CCK office Tel: (+254 2) 49111, Fax (254 2) 445386.

Applicants must furnish:

• Two local references (ARSK will try to assist here);
• A Police Certificate of Good Conduct from the applicant's local Police Force;
• A photocopy of his/her Passport, showing Entry Permit if applicable;
  or Kenya Identity document in the case of citizens;
• A photocopy of the valid license held, from his/her country of citizenship only, if applicable. Other, reciprocal licenses will not be accepted.
  

CHARGES: There is an initial non-refundable application fee of K.Shs.1,000 (about US$14). On approval for issue the fee is K.Shs.2,000 + 15% Value Added Tax (VAT), Shs.2,300 - about US$31.
At present the CCK Cashier at the licensing office has no facilities for accepting foreign exchange and payment must be tendered in Kenya shillings.

Types of License: Only Full licenses are available to non-Kenyans at present, renewable annually. Novice (students/school pupils only) and Intermediate (no-code) licenses are available to Kenyan citizens. Neither short-term nor Visitors' licenses are available, only annual full licenses. The ARSK is doing it's best to have the policy changed for the better, so far without results. The offices responsible for the issue of licenses are on Waiyaki Way, the road from Westlands towards Nakuru, well signposted, and well out of the City Centre with safe parking.
Offices are open during normal office hours from Monday to Friday only. The Cash Office is open 9 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 4 pm only.

GENERAL INFORMATION
There are only about 40 (or fewer) amateur licenses issued and current in Kenya, and several of the holders live abroad. Only about 10 are active. The Society Station 5Z4RS, based at the HQ & Shack, sadly is seldom on the air due to shortage of operators.
The usual Region 1 amateur band limits are authorised in Kenya, BUT NOT 6 m or 30 m. On VHF the 2 m band is limited to 144 - 146 mHz.
The Society supports Radio Scouting and the annual Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) in conjunction with the Kenya Scouts Association as far as the number of licensed operators allows, and has recently assisted in the formation of a thriving Radio Club at Starehe Boys Centre and School in Nairobi. This Club has attracted so much interest that it's membership has had to be limited to fifty.

The Society also sponsors amateur radio activity at The Hodari Boys Club in Nairobi. Their station is 5Z4HB.

A Maritime Mobile net for amateurs sailing in the Indian Ocean is run by Tony Britchford, 5Z4FZ, on 14316 kHz at 0500Z, and 1130Z daily in conjunction with ZS5MU in Durban, South Africa.

The power supply in Kenya is nominally 240VAC, 50hz. Interruptions can be expected due to weather and loadshedding.

The major radio suppliers have Agencies in Nairobi, but some spares may take time to obtain.

East African Time is UTC +3 hours.

CUAGN SN! We look forward to working you on the air, seeing you here in person and hopefully in the not too distant future we may be able to assist and advise in getting visitors' licenses. Watch this space in case we get good news for intending visitors.

As we say here: "Kwaheri ya kuonana!" - we'll be seeing you!

Compiled 12th April, 2000
Updated 6th May, 2000

- 73, GD DX -