Influence of Radio on Women Voters’ Political Knowledge on the 2013 Kenyan General Election
Keywords:
Elections; Kakamega County; Political knowledge; Radio exposure; Women votersAbstract
Prior research reveals a positive correlation between citizens’ radio exposure and political knowledge in Africa. However, little is known about the connection between women voters’ radio exposure and political knowledge during elections in Kenya. This study, therefore, examines the influence of radio on women voters’ political knowledge on the 2013 general election within the setting of Kakamega County, western Kenya. The research is anchored on uses and gratifications theory and knowledge gap theory. It builds on scholars’ recommendations on using local, national, and gender-relevant political questions to link women’s radio exposure and political knowledge. This study adopted a descriptive quantitative correlational survey collecting data from 372 women voters using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results reveal medium to high radio exposure and low political knowledge among women voters. Radio exposure explained 22.6% of the positive variance in women voters’ political knowledge. Consequently, radio contributes to political learning and this has implications for political stakeholders in Kenya. They should harness the potential of radio to reach and enrich women’s political knowledge. This article provides directions for future research on the influence of radio exposure on women’s political knowledge and subsequently electoral participation under Kenya’s new devolved political system.
References
Anduiza, E.; Gallego, A. & Jorba, L. (2012). Internet use and the political knowledge gap in Spain. Revista Internationcional De Sociologia, 70 (1), pp. 129-151, doi: 10.3989/ris.2010.01.18.
Barabas, J.; Jerit, J.; Pollock, W. & Rainey, C. (2014). The question(s) of political knowledge. American Political Science Review, 108 (4), pp. 840-855, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055414000392.
Conroy-Krutz, J. (2018). Media exposure and political participation in a transitional African context. World Development, 110, pp. 224-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.002.
County Government of Kakamega (2013). Kakamega County Development Profile. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Delli Carpini, M. X. & Keeter, S. (1996). What Americans know about politics and why it matters. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Didiugwu, I. F.; Ekwe, O. C. & Odoh, V. O. (2014). Dealing with our apathy through the radio: analysis of the role of FRCN NNọKO Umunwanyi programme in influencing women to participate in politics. New Media and Mass Communication, 32, pp. 70-81. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/dealing-with-our-apathy-through-the-radio%3a-analysis-Didiugwu-Ekwe/9c508fec122cc739704e250b3c3f4f937456d815.
Dolan, K. (2011). Women and men know different things? Measuring gender differences in political knowledge. The Journal of Politics, 73(1), pp. 97–107. doi.org/10.1017/S0022381610000897.
Dolan, K. & Hansen, M. A. (2020). The variable nature of the gender gap in political knowledge. Journal of Women, Politics and Policy. doi: 10.1080/1554477X.2020.1719000.
Edegoh, L. O. N.; Ezeh, N. C. & Anunike, O. W. (2015). Achieving rural political participation through the radio: A study of Idemili North and South local government areas in Anambra State, Nigeria. Developing County Studies, 5(19), pp. 1-9. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340447048.Achieving Rural Political Participation through the Radio a Study of Idemili North and South Local Government Areas in Anambra State Nigeria.
Edgerly, S., Thorson, K. &Wells, C. (2018). Young citizens, social media, and the dynamics of political learning in the U.S. presidential primary election. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(8), pp. 1042-1060. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218764236.
Ferrín, M.; Fraile, M. & García-Albacete, G. M. (2019). Adult roles and the gender gap in political knowledge: A comparative study. West European Politics, 42(7), pp. 1368-1389. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2019.1577069.
Fortin-Rittberger, J. (2016). Cross-national gender gaps in political knowledge: How much is due to context? Political Research Quarterly, 69(3), pp. 391-402. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916642867.
Fraile, M. (2014). Do women know less about politics than men? The gender gap in political knowledge in Europe. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society, 21(2), pp. 261–289. https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxu006.
Gillwald, A.; Milek, A. & Stork, C. (2010). Towards evidence-based ICT policy and regulation: Gender assessment of ICT access and usage in Africa. Research ICT in Africa (Vol.1 2010 policy paper 5). Retrieved from https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/10625/39064/128372.pdf.
Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (2013). Age gender matrix per county. Nairobi.
Ipsos Synovate (2012). Voters ignorant of electoral laws, processes and electable seats: Civic education vital. Nairobi.
Ipsos Synovate (2013). Review of 2012 media consumption in Kenya. Nairobi.
Jung, N. (2010). Explicating the central role of news media use in the process of political participation: Toward establishing an integrative structural model of news media effects on political participation. Doctoral dissertation. The University of Texas at Austin. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2010-08-1985.
Katz, E.; Blumler, J. G. & Gurevitch, M. (1974). Utilization of mass communication by the individual. In J. G. Blumler and E. Katz, E. (Eds.). The uses of mass communication: Current perspectives on gratifications research, pp. 61-72. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Kenya Human Rights Commission. (2014). The democratic paradox: A report on Kenya’s 2013 general election. Nairobi. Retrieved from https://www.khrc.or.ke/mobile-publications/civil-political-rights/21-democratic-paradox-a-report-on-kenya-s-2013-general-election/file.html.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2010). The Kenya 2009 population and housing census. Nairobi: The Government Printer.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). 2019 Kenya population and housing census (Volume II): Distribution of population by socio-economic characteristics. Nairobi: The Government Printer.
Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) Monitoring Project (2013). Kenya’s 2013 general election: A review of preparedness. Retrieved from http://www.katibainstitute.org/Archives/images/KNDR%20Review%20Report%202013.pdf.
Koech, F. C. (2017). Radio listenership among women in Kipkelion West Sub-County, Kericho County. Master’s research project. University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Lizotte, M. K. & Sidman, A. H. (2009). Explaining the gender gap in political knowledge. Politics & Gender, 5 (2), pp. 12751. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X09000130.
Luskin, R. C. (1990). Explaining political sophistication. Political Behaviour, 12(4), pp. 331-361. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992793.
Mbeke, P. O. (2010). Impact of mass media exposure on youth participation in 2007 Kenya general election in Nakuru District. Doctoral dissertation. University of Nairobi.
McQuail, D. (2010). McQuail’s mass communication theory. 6thed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Media Council of Kenya (2012). Status of the media report 2012. Nairobi.
Media Council of Kenya (2017). Guidelines for election coverage. Rev. Nairobi.
Muriithi, A. G. & Page, G. (2013). The Kenyan election 2013: The role of the factual discussion programme Sema Kenya (Kenya Speaks). London: BBC Media Action. Retrieved from http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/pdf/kenya_election_2013_working_paper.pdf.
Oluwatosin, O.; Olatunji, O. S.; Olusola, A. & Popoola, O. A. (2020). The influence of media on political knowledge amongst undergraduate students in Ibadan, Nigeria. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 19, pp. 13-24. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjss.v19i1.2.
Perfloff, R. M. (2014). The dynamics of political communication media and politics in a digital age. New York, NY: Routledge.
Republic of Kenya (2010). The Constitution of Kenya. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Scavo, A. & Snow, C. (2016). Media and political participation: Fostering inclusive governance. Research report issue no. 10 October 2016. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/mediaaction/pdf/research/political-participation-research-report.pdf.
Schulz-Herzenberg, C., Aling’o, P. & Gatimu, S. (2015). Voter information in Kenya’s 2013 election: News Media, political discussion and party campaigns. Institute for Security Studies Policy Brief 75. Pretoria: Institute of Security Studies. Retrieved from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/188910/PolBrief75V2.pdf.
Shaker, L. (2009). Citizens’ local political knowledge and the role of media access. American Journal of Political Science, 53, pp. 73-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769900908600406.
Shojaei, S. N.; Ku Samsu, K. H. & Asayeseh, H. (2010). Women in politics: A case study of Iran. Journal of Politics and Law, 3 (2), pp. 257-268. Retrieved from http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jpl/article/view/7209.
Simiyu, I. N. (2015). A study of broadcast programmes on development: Case study of KBC Radio Taifa. Master’s research project. University of Nairobi.
Staples, J. (1998). Call-in talk radio: A uses and gratifications study of listeners, non-listeners and callers. Master’s thesis. University of Delaware). Retrieved from https://elmurobbie.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/staplesthesis.pdf.
Tichenor, P. J., Donohue, G. A. & Olien, C. N. (1970). Mass media flow and differential growth in knowledge. Public Opinion Quarterly, 34 (2), pp. 159–70. https://doi.org/10.1086/267786.
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Harper and Row.
Yankem, C. (2015). Radio as a tool for political mobilization in Kenya during the 2013 general election: A case study of Nairobi County. Masters research project. University of Nairobi.
Barabas, J.; Jerit, J.; Pollock, W. & Rainey, C. (2014). The question(s) of political knowledge. American Political Science Review, 108 (4), pp. 840-855, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055414000392.
Conroy-Krutz, J. (2018). Media exposure and political participation in a transitional African context. World Development, 110, pp. 224-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.002.
County Government of Kakamega (2013). Kakamega County Development Profile. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Delli Carpini, M. X. & Keeter, S. (1996). What Americans know about politics and why it matters. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Didiugwu, I. F.; Ekwe, O. C. & Odoh, V. O. (2014). Dealing with our apathy through the radio: analysis of the role of FRCN NNọKO Umunwanyi programme in influencing women to participate in politics. New Media and Mass Communication, 32, pp. 70-81. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/dealing-with-our-apathy-through-the-radio%3a-analysis-Didiugwu-Ekwe/9c508fec122cc739704e250b3c3f4f937456d815.
Dolan, K. (2011). Women and men know different things? Measuring gender differences in political knowledge. The Journal of Politics, 73(1), pp. 97–107. doi.org/10.1017/S0022381610000897.
Dolan, K. & Hansen, M. A. (2020). The variable nature of the gender gap in political knowledge. Journal of Women, Politics and Policy. doi: 10.1080/1554477X.2020.1719000.
Edegoh, L. O. N.; Ezeh, N. C. & Anunike, O. W. (2015). Achieving rural political participation through the radio: A study of Idemili North and South local government areas in Anambra State, Nigeria. Developing County Studies, 5(19), pp. 1-9. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340447048.Achieving Rural Political Participation through the Radio a Study of Idemili North and South Local Government Areas in Anambra State Nigeria.
Edgerly, S., Thorson, K. &Wells, C. (2018). Young citizens, social media, and the dynamics of political learning in the U.S. presidential primary election. American Behavioral Scientist, 62(8), pp. 1042-1060. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764218764236.
Ferrín, M.; Fraile, M. & García-Albacete, G. M. (2019). Adult roles and the gender gap in political knowledge: A comparative study. West European Politics, 42(7), pp. 1368-1389. https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2019.1577069.
Fortin-Rittberger, J. (2016). Cross-national gender gaps in political knowledge: How much is due to context? Political Research Quarterly, 69(3), pp. 391-402. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916642867.
Fraile, M. (2014). Do women know less about politics than men? The gender gap in political knowledge in Europe. Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society, 21(2), pp. 261–289. https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxu006.
Gillwald, A.; Milek, A. & Stork, C. (2010). Towards evidence-based ICT policy and regulation: Gender assessment of ICT access and usage in Africa. Research ICT in Africa (Vol.1 2010 policy paper 5). Retrieved from https://idl-bnc-idrc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/10625/39064/128372.pdf.
Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (2013). Age gender matrix per county. Nairobi.
Ipsos Synovate (2012). Voters ignorant of electoral laws, processes and electable seats: Civic education vital. Nairobi.
Ipsos Synovate (2013). Review of 2012 media consumption in Kenya. Nairobi.
Jung, N. (2010). Explicating the central role of news media use in the process of political participation: Toward establishing an integrative structural model of news media effects on political participation. Doctoral dissertation. The University of Texas at Austin. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/ETD-UT-2010-08-1985.
Katz, E.; Blumler, J. G. & Gurevitch, M. (1974). Utilization of mass communication by the individual. In J. G. Blumler and E. Katz, E. (Eds.). The uses of mass communication: Current perspectives on gratifications research, pp. 61-72. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Kenya Human Rights Commission. (2014). The democratic paradox: A report on Kenya’s 2013 general election. Nairobi. Retrieved from https://www.khrc.or.ke/mobile-publications/civil-political-rights/21-democratic-paradox-a-report-on-kenya-s-2013-general-election/file.html.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2010). The Kenya 2009 population and housing census. Nairobi: The Government Printer.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). 2019 Kenya population and housing census (Volume II): Distribution of population by socio-economic characteristics. Nairobi: The Government Printer.
Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) Monitoring Project (2013). Kenya’s 2013 general election: A review of preparedness. Retrieved from http://www.katibainstitute.org/Archives/images/KNDR%20Review%20Report%202013.pdf.
Koech, F. C. (2017). Radio listenership among women in Kipkelion West Sub-County, Kericho County. Master’s research project. University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Lizotte, M. K. & Sidman, A. H. (2009). Explaining the gender gap in political knowledge. Politics & Gender, 5 (2), pp. 12751. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X09000130.
Luskin, R. C. (1990). Explaining political sophistication. Political Behaviour, 12(4), pp. 331-361. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00992793.
Mbeke, P. O. (2010). Impact of mass media exposure on youth participation in 2007 Kenya general election in Nakuru District. Doctoral dissertation. University of Nairobi.
McQuail, D. (2010). McQuail’s mass communication theory. 6thed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Media Council of Kenya (2012). Status of the media report 2012. Nairobi.
Media Council of Kenya (2017). Guidelines for election coverage. Rev. Nairobi.
Muriithi, A. G. & Page, G. (2013). The Kenyan election 2013: The role of the factual discussion programme Sema Kenya (Kenya Speaks). London: BBC Media Action. Retrieved from http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/pdf/kenya_election_2013_working_paper.pdf.
Oluwatosin, O.; Olatunji, O. S.; Olusola, A. & Popoola, O. A. (2020). The influence of media on political knowledge amongst undergraduate students in Ibadan, Nigeria. Global Journal of Social Sciences, 19, pp. 13-24. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjss.v19i1.2.
Perfloff, R. M. (2014). The dynamics of political communication media and politics in a digital age. New York, NY: Routledge.
Republic of Kenya (2010). The Constitution of Kenya. Nairobi: Government Printer.
Scavo, A. & Snow, C. (2016). Media and political participation: Fostering inclusive governance. Research report issue no. 10 October 2016. London: British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/mediaaction/pdf/research/political-participation-research-report.pdf.
Schulz-Herzenberg, C., Aling’o, P. & Gatimu, S. (2015). Voter information in Kenya’s 2013 election: News Media, political discussion and party campaigns. Institute for Security Studies Policy Brief 75. Pretoria: Institute of Security Studies. Retrieved from https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/188910/PolBrief75V2.pdf.
Shaker, L. (2009). Citizens’ local political knowledge and the role of media access. American Journal of Political Science, 53, pp. 73-89. https://doi.org/10.1177/107769900908600406.
Shojaei, S. N.; Ku Samsu, K. H. & Asayeseh, H. (2010). Women in politics: A case study of Iran. Journal of Politics and Law, 3 (2), pp. 257-268. Retrieved from http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jpl/article/view/7209.
Simiyu, I. N. (2015). A study of broadcast programmes on development: Case study of KBC Radio Taifa. Master’s research project. University of Nairobi.
Staples, J. (1998). Call-in talk radio: A uses and gratifications study of listeners, non-listeners and callers. Master’s thesis. University of Delaware). Retrieved from https://elmurobbie.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/staplesthesis.pdf.
Tichenor, P. J., Donohue, G. A. & Olien, C. N. (1970). Mass media flow and differential growth in knowledge. Public Opinion Quarterly, 34 (2), pp. 159–70. https://doi.org/10.1086/267786.
Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An introductory analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Harper and Row.
Yankem, C. (2015). Radio as a tool for political mobilization in Kenya during the 2013 general election: A case study of Nairobi County. Masters research project. University of Nairobi.
Published
2020-07-16
How to Cite
Okinda, T. I., Nyambuga, C. O., & Ojwang, B. O. (2020). Influence of Radio on Women Voters’ Political Knowledge on the 2013 Kenyan General Election: Array. Acta Universitatis Danubius. Communicatio, 14(1). Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/AUDC/article/view/399
Issue
Section
Articles
License
The author fully assumes the content originality and the holograph signature makes him responsible in case of trial.
