The Role of Community Radio in Development of the Rural Poor

Abstract

More than 850 million people in developing countries are excluded from a wide range of information and knowledge, with the rural poor in particular remaining isolated from both

traditional media and new information and communication technologies, which would

improve their livelihoods and development pattern (FAO, 2001). Considering the sociocultural and geographical structure of rural, remote people community radio has been found more effective and inclusive medium to provide unbiased information and knowledge among the masses (Gumucio 2001). The aim of this article is to analyze the contribution of community radio to the development of deprived rural people in various parts of world in general and Kenya in particular. The analysis indicates that the community radio movement has created grassroots-level participation and horizontal circulation of ideas among the deprived rural communities, which are necessary pre-conditions to democratization of communication and redistribution of power. The article has also looked at the Community Radio ownership models in various parts of the world and made some policy suggestions for its sustainability especially in Kenya and East Africa at large.

Keywords: Community radio, democratization of communication, horizontal circulation, grassroots-level participation