In the desperate, arid area of north eastern Kenya, a “voice of hope” echoes across the land. Marsabit County is home to over 290,000 people.
101.1 Marsabit FM is one of the stations run by TWR-Kenya, and began broadcasting to the area in late 2008. The area receives very little rainfall and is a hardship area, with frequent instances of livestock theft and tribal fighting between the communities. Many of the fights are a result of revenge attacks, spurred by stiff competition for the scarce resources of water, food and pastures.
The literacy level is quite low, and a poor road network makes access to information difficult. But these circumstances are what make radio a powerful and effective tool to reach the people there. They are what make Marsabit FM a blessing and a source of hope.
The program Sauti ya Tumaini (The Voice of Hope) targets the whole family with a wide range of programming. Each broadcast segment targets a particular group in the community.
To learn more about TWR-Kenya’s radio initiative, click here.
*Adapted from TWR-Kenya's E-Newsletter
