List Of Vernacular Radio Stations In Kenya
Vernacular radio stations are ones that broadcast in local languages.
In this article Keweb.co tries to answer the question by publishing the full list of Vernacular Radio Stations in Kenya
Below is the complete List of the Vernacular Radio Stations In Kenya
However, the radio landscape has been predominantly characterized by broadcasts in the two main languages (English and Kiswahili) which exclude a majority of the less educated and rural based audiences whose understanding of the two languages is either limited or not
practical. Attempts to provide local languages with limited radio air-time from the national government-owned broadcaster, KBC, for approximately four hours daily, divided into two segments, did not satisfy these audiences’ needs. The timing was either unfavorable or two
short to make programmes with significant impacts for the approximately eight local languages covered at the time (Kikuyu, Dholuo, Kipsigis, Kuria, Kisii, Luhya, Kamba, and Meru).
The liberation of the airwaves in 1990 led to the establishment of several radio stations which have risen to a current total of 158. Of these, 54 are FM radio stations dedicated mainly to broadcasting in 19 local languages.
The population which has for many years been excluded from mainstream communication has been the biggest beneficiaries as information relevant to their social and economic well-being has been democratized causing various changes in their economic lifestyles.
The five major ethnic groups whose population make up more than 70 percent of Kenya take a major share of these stations with each having between 3 (Luhya) and 8 (Luo) radio stations.
Royal Media, a private media company leads in this field with twelve FM radio stations broadcasting in various local languages: Inooro (Kikuyu), Ramogi (Dholuo), Mulembe (Luhya), Musyi (Kamba), Muuga (Meru), Chamgei (Kalenjin), Egesa (Kisii), Wimwaro (Embu) Vuuka (Maragoli), Sulwe FM (Bukusu), and Maa FM (Maasai) Other vernacular FM stations include Kass FM, Kitwek FM (Kalenjin) Coro FM,Timau Radio and Kameme FM (Kikuyu), Radio Nam Lolwe, Radio Lake Victoria, Mayienga FM and Kewi Radio (Luo), Star FM (Kisii), West FM (Luhya) and (Kikuyu) Mbaitu FM (Kamba), Kaya FM (Agiriyama), Minto, Kitwek (Kipsigis), and Anguo FM (Taita).
How many vernacular radio stations are there in Kenya?
Vernacular stations have grown in popularity and there are now more than 30 airing across the country.