| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses on the role of the press in conflict escalation in Kenya. The reality that will never change is the sense that media is a means of communication that plays an important role for information and community development. Today, all over the world, media is a connecting tool in the country or between countries. However, media is 'accused' of being a source of conflict by the ways of propaganda and bias As a result, media can cause problems because the society relies on it for news and information. The disputed 2007 presidential elections in Kenya resulted into widespread skirmishes following the announcement of results on the 30th December 2007. Spontaneous violence erupted in various parts of Kenya leading to massive displacement, loss of lives and livelihoods. About 1,200 people lost their lives and 350,000 people were displaced.
Many moved to their ethnic homelands for security reasons while others moved to the periurban areas of the major cities in various parts of Kenya. The actual figure of those who were internally displaced by violence is not known with certainty, because there were people who were not hosted in the official camps but sought refuge among communities where there were relative stability and peace. The local media has been largely accused of fanning this conflict. Media works have been correlated to the issues that result to violent behaviors such as the correlation between massive exposure to the media and the increase of violent behaviors among media audiences. Journalists have been accused paying more attention on certain issues than others. It's also evident that there are players who shape the role ofthe media. | en_US |
