Print media and functions of devolved governance in Kenya: A study of awareness creation among residents of Embakasi east sub county, Nairobi

Abstract

During the campaigns for new constitutional dispensation in Kenya, the media played the role of informing and educating its audience about the struggle that led to the promulgation of the new laws in 2010. After the kick-off of the county governments' operations in 2013, the media had the task to inform and educate its audiences about the functions of the county governments. Therefore, this study assessed the role media, particularly print, played in creating awareness about these functions. Specifically, the study examined the extent to which Nation and Standard newspapers informed and educated their audiences about county governments' functions. The study covered five thematic areas representing the devolved functions, namely: health, water, education, transport, and lands. The study used a sequential mixed method design where qualitative and quantitative designs were combined in data collection. For quantitative data, questionnaires were administered. Analyses and presentations were done in the form of tables and texts. The study analysed the contents of these newspapers for qualitative data. Systematic Random sampling procedure was used to reach respondents, while a purposive sampling procedure was used to pick the required 208-weekend newspapers for 12 months for content analysis. The study was conducted in Embakasi East Sub County, Nairobi County, with 48 983 households. The research used Yamane’s formula to determine the sample size of 399 households. The study's key finding was that print media inform and educate residents of Embakasi East Sub County in Nairobi County about county governments' functions. The study is significant as it can promote Sustainable Development Goals’ tenet of peace, justice, and establishment of strong institutions.