Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine to what extent the growth of community radios have changed the lives of ordinary people in Kenya and globally; in particular the illiterate, the urban and rural poor as well as other marginalized groups. The Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey of 2003 estimated that 60% of men and 71% of women in Kenya have only gone up to the primary school level of education (Government of Kenya, 2003). Robb asserted in his study that, “I choose to focus on radio because as a technology, it is perhaps the most suitable for community media. Unlike television, it does not require extensive broadcast facilities. Nor does it necessitate the cadre of equipment or the level of capital investment that television requires. Unlike print media, community radio does not require literacy for consumption. Lastly, 99% of American homes have at least one radio, a greater percentage than read daily newspapers (55%) have personal computers (51%) or subscribe to cable television (68%) (Media Management Center, 2007). Radio remains an accessible and inexpensive form of community media”. The historical philosophy of community radios is to use this medium as the voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of the oppressed people, or by communities that have not been served by conventional communication structures. It should promote development at the grassroots and bring about positive change in a community's living conditions and environment through dissemination of information and promotion of community dialogue through radio debates and dialogue via phone call ins, SMS and even through social media. The thesis of this paper is that community radios are playing significant roles in livelihood improvement especially for people with no other access to mainstream media.
Highlights
It is the aim of this paper to determine to what extent the community radio broadcasting has had an impact on the lives of ordinary Kenyans and the rest of the world; in particular the marginalized groups
Jean Fairbairn and Doreen Rukaria 2011(OSIEA), internationally, there is general agreement on four principles that are seen as pillars of community broadcasting
Jean Fairbairn and Doreen Rukaria 2011(OSIEA), observes that community radio stations in Kenya do not perceive themselves as being part of a distinct broadcasting sector, with its own values, ethics, practices and role
Summary
It is the aim of this paper to determine to what extent the community radio broadcasting has had an impact on the lives of ordinary Kenyans and the rest of the world; in particular the marginalized groups. Jean Fairbairn and Doreen Rukaria 2011(OSIEA), observes that community radio stations in Kenya do not perceive themselves as being part of a distinct broadcasting sector, with its own values, ethics, practices and role. “Modernization here is conceived as a process of diffusion where individuals move from a traditional way of life to a different, more technically developed and more rapidly changing way of life.” In this model an innovation, which is a new idea or practice, is communicated through certain media over time among members of a social group with the aim of changing their way of thinking or doing things. Programmes: 1. Changamka: Dealing with current affairs and politics that affect the community
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