Turning the tide: creating awareness through radio talk shows for sustainable peace

Turning the Tide: Creating Awareness through Radio Talk Shows for Sustainable Peace

By Valine Moraa

PIK project radio talk show at Nam Lolwe FM to create awareness on GBV Mary Chepkwony, giving account of her experience in radio talk show

Radio remains to be a powerful mass medium for reaching large numbers of people, especially those at the grassroots level. Radio as a channel of communication, plays a significant role in spreading information and raising awareness, promoting dialogue and debate on major issues of concern as well as providing a platform to express needs, opinions and aspirations.

It is for this reason that the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Africa Woman and Child Feature Service (AWC) under the auspices of the Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) project reaches out to and collaborates with various mainstream and community based radio stations to educate and create awareness on Gender Based Violence and Peace.

The International Day of Peace, which is annually on September 21, provided an opportunity for PIK to utilize this medium quite strategically. Various PIK project partner organizations took part in radio talk shows to reach out to the public on the importance of fostering and maintaining Peace. These shows were held in various vernacular radio stations located at both county and national levels including Radio Taifa of Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation (KBC) and Pwani fm that both broadcast in Swahili dialect, Radio Nam Lolwe of Luo dialect, Radio Kitwek of Kalenjin dialect, Minto fm of Kisii dialect among others.

Mary Chepkony, the Deputy Director at Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL), a PIK partner organization that covers Nandi, Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia counties says that one needs to prepare fully and be on time when taking part in a radio talk show.

Chepkony, who is also a Peace Champion was on air with Radio Kitwek and says that the live show allowed the public to call and send texts via Short Messages Service (SMS) to get insight on conflict and peace as well as the importance of marking the Day of Peace.

“Majority of those who called during the show did not know that September 21 is a day set aside in the world to promote Peace,” she says. She further adds, “The public also wanted to know why Kenyans mark the Day and I informed them that it is celebrated to enhance the need for maintaining Peace. Experiences such as the 1992 tribalism clashes and 2007/2008 post election violence have made Kenyans to see the importance of preaching peace.”

“For instance, Dr. Wycliffe, a caller from Bomet County asked; ‘You are talking about Peace but we are not at Peace as our country constantly experiences conflict, what are we going to do to promote sustainable Peace?’ I responded that we need to talk and educate our children so that they can understand the causes and effects of conflict. Without peace there will be no development in the country, poverty will continue, lives and property will be lost; so we need to come out strongly as a family and communities to say no to conflict.”

“Another caller, Wesley Bett from Kericho County asked; ‘We have experienced Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases where some village elders and chiefs accept bribes to hinder justice for the survivors and thus not promoting peace, what should we do when such incidences happen?’ I responded that in such cases one is required to go to the relevant authorizes and report so that action can be taken against the persons who gave out and received the bribe, as well as the perpetrator of the violence. Not reporting these crimes enhances their continuity and as a result, promotes conflict.”

Kosgei, calling from Uasin Gishu County, highlighted a political conflict that is currently being experienced in the country. A politician is reported to have confessed to fixing another politician in crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, and he wanted to know what actions a peace builder should take to address such a claim. She responded that: “This is a serious claim and it is not up to a peace builder or the citizens to take matters in to their own hands. It is for the law enforcement agents to handle the issue in accordance to the law. Our role is to ensure that we do not allow politics to divide and cause us conflict. ”

From Kisumu County, Pastor Job Odindo, a Community Activist with PIK Project, was on Radio Nam Lolwe talk show. He says that the one and a-half hour interactive show held to mark the International Day of Peace, had callers from Kisumu, Siaya, Bondo and Homa Bay Counties.

According to Odindo, the main message was a call on all Kenyans to ensure peace in and outside the home and to end Gender Based Violence. PIK acknowledges that gender based violence is a social issue which is a major hindrance to sustainable peace. “Reduction of gender based violence especially against women and children can only be attained if there is peace inside and outside our homes,� he said.

The speakers during the talk shows emphasized the need for dialogue so as to resolve conflicts in an amicable manner.

The callers also commended the partnership between PIK Project and the radio stations for airing the shows to promote peace and raise awareness on gender based violence. They urged the radio producers to continuously hold such talk shows, which informs and educates the public, and help them make informed decisions.

A research by Ipsos-Synovate indicates that radio remains the most popular news source for most Kenyans at 93 percent. The research further reveals that 70 percent of radio audiences listen to Swahili stations compared with 68 percent and 52 percent for vernacular and English broadcasting stations respectively.

Similarly, a country report titled Mapping Digital Media: Kenya reveals that radio remains the biggest source of news for a majority of Kenyans, because it is affordable and reaches even the remotest parts of the country. According to the report, the fact that only about 30 percent of Kenya is connected to an electricity supply means most people cannot power such media as television and computers. It also state that a sizeable number of people in Kenya read newspapers as 50percent of people live below the poverty line and thus can hardly afford to buy a newspaper given that the average cost is KSh50.

Approximately, PIK project has reached five million listeners through radio talk shows in the nine counties where it is implemented.