the role of radio broadcasting in socio-political conflict resolution in kenya: a study of citizen radio

Abstract

Media plays a crucial role in informing the public about conflicts, analyzing and helping to resolve them. Peace media provides an alternate professional paradigm for the journalists to enable them view, interpret, source and narrate conflicts in ways that seek non-violent responses in society an approach that ultimately would help transform conflict and lead it towards resolution. The purpose of the study was to assess the role played by radio broadcasting in socio-political conflict resolution in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: identify the perceptions of people on the role of radio broadcasting in 2007 socio-political conflict resolution in Kenya; analyze the radio broadcasting programs that led to socio-political conflict resolution; examine effective conflict resolution strategies that can be used to reduce socio-political conflicts. The study was guided by Shaw and Mccombs; Agenda setting Theory, whose main postulate is salience transfer. A descriptive survey design was adopted in the study. The study was carried out in Cheplat, Kilgoris and Sondu where 400 listeners of Radio Citizen were picked from each of the three areas thus a target population of 1200 respondents. Snowball and purposive sampling techniques were used to get a sample size of 50 sampled from each area the study adopted mixed methods where quantitative data were collected using questionnaires while qualitative data in-depth interviews were used. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The researcher sought permission from Royal Media Services and a research permit was obtained from the National council of Science and Technology. Findings show that 93.9% of the respondents believed that Radio citizen has a crucial role in conflict resolution. Findings further show that, radio talk shows were the major contributors to conflict resolution, 86.2% of the respondents concurred that radio talk shows can be used to transform conflicts into peace. Findings also revealed that 97% of the respondents agreed that if the strategies in place are incorporated into radio citizen programmes, they can help in educating the public on conflict resolution. The study concluded that the media has a vital role in resolving conflicts, talk shows to be utilized in conflict resolution by using skilled practitioners and put in place strategies that will enable the public to handle conflicts. The study recommends that media practitioners need to be equipped with conflict sensitive reporting skills. Radio citizen should invest and develop a journalism practice that can cope and address critical issues affecting conflict resolutions