(UPDATED 30TH APRIL 2026)
PART I -INTRODUCTION
Welcome and thank you for choosing Citizen Digital.
Your use of the platform (as hereafter defined), its content and all services relating thereto is subject to the terms of a legal agreement between you and Royal Media Services LTD, a company incorporated in the Republic of Kenya with its principal office at Communications Center, Maalim Juma Road, off Dennis Pritt and of P. O. Box 7468-00300 Nairobi ('RMS') and which owns and operates the platform.
The legal agreement between you and RMS is made up of:
(1) the Citizen Digital Terms and Conditions of Use (the 'Terms and Conditions') set out under Part IV hereunder; and
The Terms form a legally binding agreement between you and RMS in relation to your use of the platform and any of its content. It is important that you read them carefully, understand, and accept them in the manner specified herein. Should you need legal advice before accepting the Terms, please obtain such advice at your own convenience and cost.
PART II - INTERPRETATION
In the Terms, the following words shall have the meanings assigned beside them:
1.1. 'Content' shall mean any text, graphics, audio, visual (including still visual images) and/or audio-visual material, including, without limitation, compilations and sequential or other aggregations of such material (such as Podcasts and Games), selected memes, recorded TV and radio shows, live TV and radio streaming, or other multimedia content, information and material, including the metadata relating to any such content, availed or to be availed by RMS for viewing, listening to, downloading or streaming by you on the platform, by use of an electronic device which is capable of accessing the platform and content therein through telephone communication or connecting to the internet, including but not limited to computers, mobile phones, tablets, media players, smart TVs, and other similar devices, which devices comply with the technical requirements to access the platform and the Content. Content shall also mean a service that is provided through Citizen Digital to consumers on an on-demand basis, in collaboration with other product providers, described in these Terms, that is made available on mobile devices, web, app and USSD platforms ('Platform as a Service').
1.2. 'Intellectual Property Rights' means all intellectual property rights, including patents, registered designs, trademarks and service marks (whether registered or not); rights in the nature of unfair competition rights; copyright; database rights; design rights; and all similar property rights, including those subsisting (in any part of the world) in inventions, designs, drawings, performances, business names, goodwill and the style and presentation of goods or services and applications for protection of any of the above rights;
1.3. 'writing,' unless the context otherwise requires or it is otherwise provided in the Terms, means any form of writing and includes, without limitation, electronic mail, online messaging and any other available information transmission methods, provided that such methods are reliable and verifiable;
1.4. 'Non-Personal Information' shall mean any information that is not Personal Information, including, without limitation, any data or other information collected by RMS about the service and your use of the platform or any Content, device information, log information, and location information;
1.5. 'Personal Information' shall mean personal details related to your account and shall include your name, email address, telephone number, or credit or debit card information. For the avoidance of doubt, a post office box number shall not be personal information.
1.6. 'Third-party website' shall mean any website other than the website on which the platform is hosted and operated, and 'third-party websites' shall have the corresponding plural meaning;
1.7. 'Citizen Digital' or 'the platform' shall mean the Citizen Digital website accessible at www.citizen.digital, the Citizen Digital Android application available on Google Play Store, the Citizen Digital iOS application available on Appstore, the Citizen Digital Windows Phone application available on Microsoft Store, the Citizen Digital feature accessible through WhatsApp feature, the Citizen Digital service accessible by telephone calls or SMS or USSD, used by RMS to provide the Content, Citizen Digital (by whatever manner, shape or color styled) being a registered trademark of RMS and any other online platform which RMS shall use, in collaboration with other product providers, to provide its services and opportunities; and
1.8. 'Citizen Digital service' or 'the service' shall mean the service provided by RMS on the platform for discovering, watching, listening to, accessing, and downloading the Content, including all features and functionalities, recommendations, and reviews available on the platform and the user interfaces associated therewith, as well as all content and software associated with the service or the platform.
PART III - ACCEPTANCE.
2.1 In order to use the Citizen Digital service, you must first agree to and accept the Terms. You may not use the platform if you do not accept them.
2.2. You agree to these Terms and Conditions by registering and signing into the Citizen Digital platform or by doing such other thing as may be specified in the platform or otherwise by RMS.
2.3. By creating a Citizen Digital account or otherwise accessing the platform (whether by initiating a telephone call to use the Citizen Digital service, sending an SMS to Citizen Digital, dialing a USSD code provided by RMS for purposes of accessing the Citizen Digital service, accessing the Citizen Digital website, or using such other method of accessing the service as RMS may provide from time to time), you allow RMS to send marketing and promotional material regarding the platform, the Citizen Digital service, or any Content therein to the email address or telephone number provided when creating your Citizen Digital account or otherwise using the Citizen Digital service. In addition, and without prejudice to the foregoing, RMS shall be entitled to display and otherwise broadcast to you all manner of informational, advertisement, marketing, and promotional messages:
2.3.1. by displaying text, audio, audio-visual and other forms of media within the Citizen Digital platform's user interface;
2.3.2. by displaying text, audio, audio-visual and other forms of media within the Content;
2.3.3. through push notifications and pop-up messages on your mobile device; and
2.3.4. playing audio, audio-visual, and other forms of media at the beginning or at the end of telephone calls made by or to RMS for purposes of either (i) accessing and using the service or (ii) making inquiries or responding to inquiries, as the case may be, regarding the platform or the service.
PART IV—CITIZEN DIGITAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
3. Use of the Citizen Digital Service
3.1. You may not use the Citizen Digital platform or use the Citizen Digital service and may not accept the Terms if:
3.1.1. You are legally incapacitated to enter into a legally binding contract with RMS. If you are legally incapacitated, you may only use the service under supervision by a person with legal capacity, a Parent or a guardian, or
3.1.2. You are barred or otherwise legally prohibited from receiving or using any part of the Content under any applicable law.
3.2. RMS provides the service using any of the following modes:
3.2.1. through the Social Media platforms;
3.2.2. through the Citizen Digital website and Apps;
3.2.3. through telephone calls;
3.2.4. through USSD;
3.2.5. through a Set Top Box; and/or
3.2.6. through WhatsApp Messenger in accordance with clause 6.
3.3. In order to use the service through a telephone call, you will need to initiate such call by sending an SMS to a number provided by RMS for that purpose, by dialing a USSD code provided by RMS for that purpose or by using such other method as RMS may specify from time to time. Clause 5 below details the process to be used in that regard.
3.4. In order to access the Citizen Digital platform and use the service, you may need to create a Citizen Digital account with a username and a password ("your login credentials"). The creation of a Citizen Digital account grants you access to the Content on Citizen Digital. When creating your account, you will be required to provide certain information. You agree that you shall provide all the information that RMS may require you to provide for purposes of the creation of your Citizen Digital account. If you fail to provide the information required on the Citizen Digital platform or the Citizen Digital website or as requested by RMS from time to time, RMS shall have the right to discontinue the service without any further notices or reference to you.
3.5. Further to Clause 3.2.4., you shall also be able to upload content, including Wananchi reporting content, through SMS, Web and App for adoption, subject to these terms and conditions and any other terms that RMS has established for uploading of content on the Platform.
3.6. You further agree that RMS retains the absolute discretion to accept or reject your request to (a) create a Citizen Digital account on the platform or on the Citizen Digital website or (b) receive a telephone call in accordance with clause 5 or (c) otherwise access the service.
3.7. You are required to keep your Citizen Digital account password and other account credentials and details secure and confidential.
3.8. You agree that you will be solely responsible (to RMS and to other parties) for any activity that occurs under your Citizen Digital account or otherwise with your log-in credentials and shall indemnify and keep indemnified RMS from any claims or liabilities whatsoever that may arise from such activity.
3.9. Your Citizen Digital account will be operated based on Terms and conditions provided by Citizen Digital
3.10. To use the RMS service, you must have access to the internet or to suitable telephone service, as the case may be, and a compatible device.
3.11. Should you require subscribing to access any Content within Citizen Digital, RMS under this agreement and the applicable law will charge you the appropriate subscription fees, as the case may be, (and any other charges that may result from your use of the service) to your account. The amounts so charged shall be deducted, in one or more installments, from any payments subsequently made to RMS through your account(s).
3.12. Where applicable, you will be able to find specific details regarding your subscription status by logging onto your Citizen Digital account or by contacting RMS.
3.13. The Citizen Digital platform and any Content accessed through the service are for your personal and non-commercial use only. During your Citizen Digital use, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access the Citizen Digital platform, to view, listen to and download the Content, subject to the limitations on time, Content amount, or Content category to which you’ve been granted access. Except for the foregoing limited license, no right, title, or other interest whatsoever in any part of the Content shall be transferred to, or be claimed by, you. You agree not to use the service or any Content accessed through the service for any purpose or in any manner that will or is likely to (a) infringe on the Intellectual Property Rights of any person and (b) jeopardize RMS's commercial interest in the service and any Content thereon. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, you accept not to distort, manipulate, reconfigure, format, aggregate, distribute, sell, or otherwise disseminate any Content or part of any Content accessed or received by you through Citizen Digital. Breach of this clause may lead to, without prejudice to any other rights that RMS or any third party may have under the applicable law, RMS cancelling your Citizen Digital account and otherwise discontinuing your use of the service or the platform. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RMS any all of its officers, directors, employees and agents against any loss, damages, penalties, claims or costs howsoever arising and resulting whether directly or indirectly from your breach of this clause.
4. Citizen Digital Wananchi Reporting
4.1. In addition to the service, the Citizen Digital platform and the Citizen Digital website will have a publicly accessible self-upload feature labelled Wananchi Reporting.
4.2. All the content available under this feature is free
4.3. However, the content available on Wananchi Reporting is submitted by users with whom RMS has not entered into content provision agreements. RMS is therefore not responsible for ensuring that the content conforms to any quality standards or that it does not infringe upon the Intellectual Property Rights or commercial interests of any person.
4.4. Consequently, you agree to use that content as is, at your own risk and with no guarantee from RMS (a) that the content conforms to any quality standards, (b) that the content or its availability for your use complies with all applicable laws and/or (c) that your use of the content will not expose you to legal action for breach of the Intellectual Property Rights or commercial interests of any person.
4.5. Without prejudice to the foregoing, you acknowledge that RMS accepts no liability for any breaches on any applicable law or any infringement on the rights of any person with regard to any content in the Wananchi Reporting feature.
4.6. You consequently agree that RMS may use your content submitted under Wananchi Reporting for promotional purposes in order to promote the service. You agree to give this right to RMS on an unlimited basis as long as your content remains uploaded on the platform.
4.7. Wananchi Reporting - Content Solicitation Campaign
4.7.1. Wananchi Reporting offers Citizen Digital users and the general public a platform to air their views, create content and stand the opportunity to earn money, based on whether their content gets published on the platform.
Mechanics
4.7.2. Campaign
4.7.2.1. Citizen Digital is enabling Kenyans to report on stories that have happened in their communities by submitting stories, videos, or pictures via Wananchi Reporting as they happen.
4.7.3. Content Guidelines
4.7.3.1. The content must be your original work, and they should be the sole rights holder of the Content.
4.7.3.2. Users are encouraged to create and/or submit videos, pictures, tips, articles, or any other creative and/or interesting original content.
4.7.3.3. Users will be asked to submit whatever they have as long as it's relevant and appropriate and is in line with taste and decency guidelines.
4.7.4. Entry, Qualification& Review
4.7.4.1. Uploading content to Wananchi Reporting is FREE. The following are the qualifications:
4.7.4.1.1. You must be 18 or older to earn.
4.7.4.1.2. Content must be your own original work.
4.7.4.1.3. Your content must not infringe on the rights of others. We promptly remove infringing content reported to us.
4.7.4.1.4. Content submitted to Wananchi Reporting will be moderated before it is shared with the wider Citizen Digital community. This is to ensure the authenticity and quality of the content submitted.
4.7.4.1.4.1. The Citizen Digital users enjoy great content; and
4.7.4.1.4.2. The Citizen Digital users stay safe.
4.7.4.1.5. Not every content submitted will make it into Wananchi Reporting. Content can be rejected for any of the following reasons stated below:
4.7.4.1.5.1. Content does not meet quality criteria
4.7.4.1.5.2. Hateful or Abusive
4.7.4.1.5.3. Harmful and Dangerous Acts
4.7.4.1.5.4. Suicide or Self-Injury
4.7.4.1.5.5. Violates Privacy
4.7.4.1.5.6. Violate Copyright
4.7.4.1.5.7. Sexual Content
4.7.4.1.5.8. Hate Speech
4.7.4.1.5.9.False News
4.7.4.1.5.10. Inappropriate Promotion (Brand and Product Placement)
4.7.4.1.5.11. Nudity
4.7.4.1.5.12. Violent or Repulsive
4.7.4.1.5.13. Child Abuse
4.7.4.1.5.14. Promotes Terrorism, Tribalism or Racism
4.7.4.1.5.15. Spam or Misleading
4.7.4.1.5.16. Infringes rights of certain group
4.7.5. Selection of earners & payment eligibility at RMS's discretion.
4.7.5.1. RMS may opt to reward the Wananchi reporters and shall follow the below mechanics:
4.7.5.2. Earners will be paid for successful submissions that have been posted on Citizen Digital platforms
4.7.5.11. The earnings will subject to applicable taxes including withholding tax.
4.7.5.12. You must be present in the Eligible Country at the time you submit your Wananchi Reporting. The Eligible country is Kenya.
4.7.5.13. Any entrant may be deemed ineligible at the sole discretion RMS.
4.7.6. We reserve the right to amend these rules at any time
4.7.7. How to earn money with Wananchi Reporting on Citizen Digital:
4.7.7.1. Click on the Wananchi Reporting icon on the platform and submit via SMS, Whatsapp, Email, or App/Website
5. Podcasts
5.1. In addition to the service and the Wananchi Reporting feature, RMS may introduce Podcasts in the form of episodic series of spoken word digital audio files that a user can listen to, and/or download to a personal device for easy listening. The feature shall be free to listen to and free to upload
5.2. This feature will be guided by the following terms and conditions:
5.2.1. The Podcasts may display content from third parties and RMS may review content to determine whether it is illegal or violates its policies. However, the content and the soundness of the content is the sole responsibility of the entity that makes it available. 5.2.2. If a podcast or episode is identified as infringing any form of copyright, the infringing content will be removed immediately in line with the claimant's request.
5.2.3. All Podcast licensing, copyright and royalty issues are the sole responsibility of the individual clients and/or their production entities.
5.2.4. RMS shall display advertisements for the goods and services of a third party but does not endorse or represent nor is it responsible for the safety, quality, accuracy, reliability, integrity, or legality of any such goods or services advertised, promoted or displayed.
5.3. RMS will also provide users with the ability to view and distribute Podcasts through the Citizen Digital Podcasts Services, and there shall not be any revenue accruing to the user for uploading podcasts
5.3.1. For third parties, by submitting your podcast, you warrant that your episode:
5.3.1.1. Shall be true, accurate, current, complete, and not misleading.
5.3.1.2. Shall not violate the rights of any third party, including, but not limited to, intellectual property and proprietary rights.
5.3.1.3. Shall not be fraudulent or involve counterfeit or stolen information or items, shall not violate any law, statute, ordinance, or regulation.
5.3.1.4. Shall not create any liability for RMS or any of its employees, agents, directors, officers, and shareholders.
5.3.1.5. Has all the necessary written consents from each person in the episode.
5.3.2. You acknowledge that by providing you with the ability to view and distribute user-generated-content through the Citizen Digital Podcasts Services RMS is merely acting as a conduit for the distribution of such information.
6. Accessing Content via Telephone Calls
6.1. RMS may introduce a feature in which you will be able to access Content via telephone calls, with the effect that you will use the service without using the platform or the Citizen Digital website.
6.2. This feature will be guided by the following terms and conditions:
6.2.1. You will initiate the process by dialing USSD code as shall be provided by RMS for that purpose or by sending an SMS to a number provided by RMS for that purpose.
6.2.2. RMS accepts no liability for device failures, call failures, network failures or any disruptions of any nature. Further, you acknowledge that provision of this feature is dependent on services provided by third parties, to your device and to telecommunications infrastructure the availability and quality of which RMS has no control over. Consequently, RMS does not guarantee that the Content transmitted will be clear.
7. The Citizen Digital WhatsApp Feature
7.1. RMS may introduce, whether as part of or independent from the Citizen Digital platform, an opt-in feature in which you will be able to access Content via WhatsApp Messenger. The WhatsApp feature may enable you to access all Content available on the platform or it may only enable you to access limited content
7.2. You may be able to chat with RMS and/or its customer care staff through WhatsApp.
7.3. RMS accepts no liability for device failures, network failures, defects, or delays in or caused by the WhatsApp system, or any disruptions of any nature. Further, you acknowledge that provision of this feature is dependent on services provided by third parties, particularly the proprietors of WhatsApp Messenger, on your device features and connectivity and to telecommunications and internet access infrastructure, the availability and quality of which RMS has no control over. Consequently, RMS does not guarantee that the content transmitted will be usable or accessible to you or that it will be clear and uninterrupted. Consequently,
8. Kids View
8.1. For a user under the age of majority, which is eighteen years, your use of the Citizen Digital platform is subject to these Terms and Conditions and as hereunder ("Kids View").
8.3. Permission by Parent or Guardian
a) If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use the Citizen Digital platform. Please have them read these Terms and Conditions with you.
b) If you are a parent or legal guardian of a user under the age of eighteen, by allowing your child to use the Citizen Digital platform, you are subject to the terms of these Terms and Conditions and responsible for your child's activity on the platform.