The Contribution of Radio to Conflict Resolution: a Case Study of Radio Amani, Nakuru
Abstract
This study investigated the contribution of Radio to conflict resolution, using the case of Radio
Amani in Nakuru County. The study was guided by four specific objectives: to find out how
ownership of Radio Amani influences its intervention in reporting conflict, to find out how
government regulation of media influences the contribution of Radio Amani to conflict
resolution in Nakuru, to find out if the intervention by Radio Amani has influenced the escalation
or de-escalation of violent conflict in Nakuru, to find out if Radio Amani faces any hindrances in
promoting conflict resolution. The data for this research was collected using questionnaires
which were administered to 350 respondents. Data was also collected using interviews, three
county administrators, four media practitioners and two representatives of organizations involved
conflict resolution initiatives were interviewed. The data was analyzed using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The data was thematically analyzed by classifying major
issues covered and recurrent themes and presented in narrative form. The findings of the study
were: radio, being an appropriate, cheap and easily accessible medium of passing peace
messages, contributes considerably to the de-escalation of conflict and in reducing the frequency
of conflict; the ownership of radio greatly influences the contribution of radio to conflict
resolution in terms of peace programming and the way radio is perceived by its audience; media
regulation has a big influence on the depth and extent to which radio can deal with issues of
conflict; radio faces many hindrances in contributing to conflict resolution and for it to contribute
significantly to conflict resolution, it must overcome these challenges. The conclusions of the
study are that radio can contribute significantly to conflict resolution if media regulation is not a
hindrance and if media owners and broadcasting policies of media houses favour programming
suitable for conflict resolution. Moreover, radio must overcome financing, technological, staff
turnover and qualification challenges as well as collaborate with other stakeholders and
government in conflict resolution. Therefore, the study recommends that further research be done
on ways in which radio can be harnessed in order to contribute to conflict resolution more
effectively, and on how partnerships can be established amongst radio, the government and other
stakeholders in conflict resolution. Moreover policies to involve radio in conflict resolution
should be formulated and that less restrictive and more enabling media laws be formulated for
radio to contribute more significantly to conflict resolution. Furthermore media organizations
should give more prominence to conflict resolution issues.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis