| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out to establish the role the media played in the destruction of images of nationhood by creating hatred and disconnect through their reporting of the post election violence in 2007. The project involved a study of opinions on images of Kenya after the post election violence.
The study attempted to establish on one hand whether the broadcast media content was in anyway influencing the way Kenyans view, identify and feel about themselves and whether the influence was positive or negative. And on the other hand to establish if the media made any efforts to rebuild the idea of nationhood by trying to reconcile various groups of people after the post election violence and also to establish how people feel about mass media as a tool of nationhood after the general election.
The study was carried out in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The city was selected due to the availability of a variety of television and radio stations as compared to other urban centers and rural areas in the country. Also as the capital city of Kenya, Nairobi is considered a melting pot for the over 40 different ethnic communities found, in Kenya. The study focused on electronic media, the modern world's most celebrated and effective conveyors of ideology and articulators of social rules .
In terms of media access and use, the study ascertained that the media and particularly
radio, television and newspaper are very important sources of information and entertainment for the people of Kenya and are widely accessible with all the respondents having access to television which was also identified as the most preferred media. Majority of the respondents watched television everyday.
Some respondents thought Kenyans did not have a strong sense of nationhood, seen
as pride and love for their country and a sense of belonging. Kenyans, they said were disillusioned by a myriad of problems that plague the country such as corruption, poverty, unemployment and would grab the opportunity to leave the country and settle
else where particularly in the West. According to them, a strong sense of belonging
lacks because Kenyans are ethnically divided.
Some of the respondents also felt the media does not promote a strong sense of nationhood. Some of the reasons they cited include: the media focuses on negative reporting of the nation, some stations are biased, the media lacks enough local programmes that would promote nationhood because they focus more on foreign programmes and some stations especially the vernacular radio stations openly promote tribalism.
The study found that for Kenyans, having a strong sense of belonging and pride in being Kenyan is very important. That the print, television and radio stations in Kenya, through their reporting and programmes are very active in promoting among Kenyans a strong sense of nationhood. This is largely because the media uses a common language, promotes local programmes, airs national events, 'promotes national awareness campaigns and some of their programmes promote peace, love and
harmony.
The study also found that the media i..n.. Kenya through their programmes are very active in promoting the different cultures of the people of Kenya. This is evidenced by the
presence of different vernacular stations and programmes that showcase diversity of
communities. Some media houses organize cultural nights, for example, egesa night for the abagusii, mrembe night for the abalhuyia, coast night and so many others.
It is the responsibility of the government, therefore, to enhance and promote self regulation of the media. Much as we want to encourage emerging radio and television stations, they should be encouraged to employ qualified journalists who can uphold the media standards and ethics. Capacity building of journalists on conflict reporting, communication and peace education thus will help to identify and release deep-seated knowledge located within the various sub-systems and systems of society, weigh a range of alternatives and adopt multi-track measures to seek peaceful resolution of conflicts. | en |
