A Comparative Study of Print Media Coverage of the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme to Vulnerable Groups in Kenya Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study set out to investigate how print media covered the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific objectives were: to find out the extent to which the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme was covered before and during the COVID-19 period, to analyse the themes emerging from print media coverage of the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme in Kenya and to investigate the public perceptions of the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme based on print media reporting. It is anchored on the agenda setting, priming and framing theories. The study used a descriptive design and qualitative research approach. Purposive sampling was used to draw a target population of 28 newspaper editions that had relevant articles on the programme drawn from a total population of 545 newspaper editions in Kenya. The sample size was 29 articles. The research method used was content analysis and the data collection tool was a coding sheet. Data were presented in narrative form. The study found out that there was a significant increase in coverage of the Inua Jamii cash transfer programme during the pandemic. The themes drawn from the reviewed articles were mismanagement, efficiency, corruption, non-commitment, challenges, reforms, shortage and expansion. The public perceptions drawn from the study were: efficiency, corruption, insecurity, protection, and government stipend not enough. The study recommends that the government and media put more effort in creating awareness of the Hunger Safety Net Programme. The study also recommends that the government address the issue of mismanagement of the programme and lastly the media should put more effort in capturing the public‟s opinions on social protection programmes in the country.