Community radio in nairobi's informal settlements rewriting women's narrative

• Author: Busolo , Doreen. Van de Fliert , Elske. Thomas, Pradip
• Pages: 79-98

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COMMUNITY RADIO IN NAIROBI’S INFORMAL

SETTLEMENTS REWRITING WOMEN’S

NARRATIVE

BUSOLO , DOREEN

The University of Queensland

VAN DE FLIERT , ELSKE

The University of Queensland

THOMAS, PRADIP

The University of Queensland

ABSTRACT

Despite policies outlawing gender discrimination, the patriarchal system in

Kenyan society favours the male gender continuing to victimise women, due to

gender inequality. The Pamoja FM and Ruben FM commitment to serve the

community extends to women groups living in informal settlements. This

research examines the strategies and practices employed by two selected

community radio stations in the informal settlements of Nairobi to support the

empowerment and engagement of women in the process of empowerment and

the influence that the community radio programs have on women's lives. The

community radio in Mukuru and Kibera slums has enabled women's inclusion

in social development changing the societal perceived stereotypes against

women. The real-life challenges of women in Mukuru and Kibera slums are

portrayed in Pamoja FM and Ruben FM women’s programmes. In this way,

issues affecting women in Mukuru and Kibera slums form content addressing

targeted problems affecting specific women groups.

KEYWORDS: Community radio, women empowerment, informal settlements,

Kenya.

1. Introduction

The Kenya equality and freedom from discrimination law is a fundamental

provision for women empowerment. Article 27 states “every person is equal before

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Juan Carlos Suárez-Villegas - Sergio Marín Conejo (co-editores)

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the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefits of the law”(The

Constitution of Kenya, 2010, p. 24). Further “women and men have the right to

equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic,

cultural and social sphere” (The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, p. 24). Despite this

and many other policies protecting females, women are still experiencing

discrimination and stereotyping in their daily lives. For instance, violence against

women, paratracheal cultural norms, limited opportunities, unfair treatments

because of gender, inclusion, and exclusion based on marital status, among others

are some of the experiences.

The women in the informal settlement in Nairobi are adversely affected due to the

unconducive slum environment and gender. Their plight is the rational for

empowerment through community radio in Kibera and Mukuru slums. This is

because Community Radio has proven to be a good medium to relay context

specific information and provide a platform for voice (Al-hassan et al., 2011). For

this reason, Pamoja FM and Ruben community stations are broadcasting women

empowerment programmes amplifying women’s voice in the community they

serve. Through programmes, women in Mukuru and Kibera have made great strides

individually and collectively. For example, women are reporting injustices to

community radio.

Community radio women inclusion has enhanced interdependence between

community radio and women in the community of Mukuru and Kibera. In this way,

Pamoja FM and Ruben FM stations incorporate women's ideas in women's

programme content. Women on the other hand are provided with a platform to

learn, educate, share experiences, and encourage one another, thus influencing the

change they desire. Another significant aspect of women empowerment through

radio has increased participation and improved self-reliance changing the

preconceived opinion about the female gender. For example, participation is an

important act of women breaking their silence with their stories on the radio

(Rimmer, 2020). What this means is that women in Kibera are Mukuru are utilising

Pamoja FM and Ruben FM to make their voice heard.

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