Vernacular FM stations need 'guidance' Vernacular FM stations need 'guidance' Share Bookmark Print Email
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The Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Oxfam Ms Elizabeth Mweni Kico addresses participants during the launch of a study on the content of vernacular radio stations in Kenya April 28,2010 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi. The government wants the stations checked to avoid them being used as avenues for hate speech and propaganda. Photo/WILLIAM OERI

The Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Oxfam Ms Elizabeth Mweni Kico addresses participants during the launch of a study on the content of vernacular radio stations in Kenya April 28,2010 at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi. The government wants the stations checked to avoid them being used as avenues for hate speech and propaganda. Photo/WILLIAM OERI
By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU
Posted Wednesday, April 28 2010 at 12:10

In Summary

* Many vernacular radio stations rooted in tribalism, ethnic prejudices and partisan political inclinations, says minister.

The vernacular radio stations ought to be "guided" as the country gears for a referendum on the draft law scheduled for August, the government has said.

Information assistant minister Dhadho Godhana said Wednesday that unless the stations stick to professional standards, another round of post-poll chaos will be witnessed, not only at the referendum, but also in the run-up to the 2012 elections.

“The environment under which the Kenyan media operate is highly polarised and needs action if the media is to have a positive impact,” said Mr Godhana at Nairobi’s Hilton Hotel during the launch of a study on the content of vernacular radio stations in Kenya.

He noted that the stations, many of them transmitting on FM (frequency modulation), were “rooted in tribalism, ethnic prejudices and partisan political inclinations”. This, he said, posed a grave danger on accuracy and objectivity of the broadcast content.

The assistant minister was apprehensive that “unless guided” the vernacular stations were likely promote hate-speech and propaganda.

The hope of the country, Mr Godhana said, lay in the newly formed advisory council set up to regulate the content of broadcast media. The board is yet to be inaugurated.

At the same function, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission sounded alarm bells over heightened use of hate speech in public rallies.

NCIC commissioner Halakhe Waqo appealed to the media to “be careful” with what politicians said in many of the rallies as they traversed the country campaigning for or against the proposed law.

He noted that the healing agenda was too broad a mandate to be handled “by just a few members” and petitioned the civil society to partner with the media to ensure ethnic harmony.

“The (cohesion) Act is just a few pages long and without the public’s support, it may not be easy for us to achieve the mandate,” said Mr Waqo.

The study carried out by PeaceNet-Kenya hugely indicts politicians in the push for national harmony. It wants the communications regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya, “to lock out politicians from owning vernacular radio stations".

The study noted that if implemented, such a ban will protect the public from the “political and ethnic prejudices” that the politicians use to “manipulate” the public leading to civil strife.

Speaking recently at National Cohesion workshop for elders from across the country, Mr Edwin Nyutho of the University of Nairobi noted that while the content in vernacular stations was wanting, the language could be used to successfully rally the citizens towards national unity.

On Wednesday, the lead researcher, Mr Eliud Situma said the danger was in the music played and the way issues were addressed.

“It should not just focus on the people of a particular tribe, but should serve all those who understand a particular language,” he said.