| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to investigate the impact of local language FM radio station on Kenya's political culture. Specifically this research sought to investigate how local language radio stations facilitated communication across lines of political difference, facilitated Interpersonal exposure to dissimilar political views and how it contributed to cross-cutting political exposure. Qualitative and quantitative survey was therefore, conducted to draw views of different groups in the society.
The local language radio stations play a central role in shaping Kenya's democracy and political culture. The findings of this study indicate that local radio station has influence on choice of party and candidate hence political orientation and political culture in Kenya. In particular, local language radio political talk shows emphasis conformity to individual community social and political norms, including embodying the political attitudes, values, and life-ways of the in-group. Local language radio station invokes a sense of mutuality that brings identification, credibility and affection between listeners and broadcasters, hence the message. This fact enhances the efficiency of coordinated action among self-interested actors during campaigns and elections.
The findings of this research imply that, future research should attempt to include the full range of political opinions found in the local language FM radio stations. It would be interesting to compare the people who only expose themselves to partisan media to people who consume mainstream media. The proposed future research would provide more insight and support the hypothesis that local language FM radio stations cause political ambivalence, thus impact political culture in Kenya. | en |
