The Role of Public Barazaas and Mainstream Media, on Public Participation on Matters Governance in Narok County

Abstract

The purpose of this research project was to investigate on how mainstream media and public barazaas as forms of communication influenced public participation in the public sector as encouraged by the Article 175 of the Kenya Constitution (2010). The study also examined the flow of communication and its implications with various forms of media in governance. Article 196 of the Kenyan Constitution (2010) heavily influenced the basis of this investigation. Article 174, Chapter 11 of the constitution defines the objectives and principles of devolved units; the counties, of which section (c) clarifies the role of people participation in the exercise of power and decision making. The major question of the research project was how the different media classes are involved in the process of influencing governance through public participation and administrative discussions thereof. In addition, we also focused on the different parameters that influence choice of media across Narok County particularly taking advantage of immense technological progress that has made it easy to be connected to the rest of the world. Besides the constant information from mainstream media is one of the reasons for the growth of our participatory culture in the country and the county of Narok in particular. Various data collection techniques were used but most importantly, the sample frame was purposively selected in that information was collected through the use of questionnaires from the public (wananchi) who actively participated in the budget process in Narok County and officers from Narok County Government who are in charge of public participation. The objectives of this study included finding the forms of advertisements used in mobilization of publics during participations in legislative processes and in policy implementation processes, with specific focus on public barazaas and mainstream media. The findings from the research showed that the two forms of communication played a major role in inviting the public to participate in key governance and development issues in the county, such as tourism, tax collections, health, education and agriculture. The findings of the research has assisted us in coming up with some key recommendations such as possible best effective forms of communication which the county may use during advertisement while calling out for public participation and also how to merge mainstream media roles and barazaas for maximum gains in mobilization efforts.