The Role of Programme Content of Mang’elete FM Community Radio in Promoting Economic Development in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

The study investigated the role of Mang’elete FM's programme content, Kenya’s first community radio station, in fostering economic development in Makueni County, a rural region with a 64.1% poverty rate. Grounded in participatory development communication theory, the research examines how locally relevant, Kamba-language content addresses socio-economic challenges like poverty, unemployment, and agricultural constraints. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving 260 listener respondents and seven key informants who included content producers and senior management. Findings reveal that the majority of listeners perceive Mang’elete FM’s content as economically empowering through education, advocacy for service delivery and community engagement. However, limitations such as inadequate expert involvement, leadership disputes, a deficit in a more participatory content development a deficit in more participatory content development and restrictive regulations limit its potential. The study recommends enhancing professional input, increasing community participation, and advocating for supportive policies. This study affirms community radio’s role in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 8, which aims at attaining decent work and economic growth in rural contexts, offering a model for other developing regions