Smooth FM

Smooth FM is Radio Africa Group's Nairobi music station for grown-up listeners, playing soul, R&B, grooves and easy listening on 105.5 FM. At launch, Radio Africa chief executive Patrick Quarcoo said it was built for Nairobians over 32 who wanted a station of their own.

The 105.5 frequency used to carry X FM, Radio Africa's rock station. In March 2019 the group switched X FM off the airwaves and moved it to Safaricom's Songa streaming app, calling it the first mainstream Kenyan station to go fully digital. Smooth went live on 105.5 the same week. Some X FM staff moved across to the new station.

At launch the format was 24 hours of soothing music, grooves and blues, seven days a week, with artists such as Kidum, Celine Dion and Lionel Richie on the playlist. Quarcoo said at the time that the station was about the music first, and that presenters would come later. By March 2020 Patrick Mwangola was presenting the Smooth FM drive-time show.

Radio Africa Group also owns Kiss 100, Classic 105, Radio Jambo and The Star newspaper. Smooth FM is its answer for an older, settled audience that wants music rather than talk.

Radio Africa said the 105.5 FM signal reaches Nairobi and its surroundings for roughly 80 to 120 kilometres. Further out, you can stream Smooth FM live on this page.