The Media As a Development Vehicle: the Case of Broadcasting in Kenya: a Study of the Role of the Media in Development and the Impact of Center Control

This is a study of the role of the media as a development vehicle, and specifically within an environment in which the center controls key institutions. The center here is meant the political, commercial and legal inhibitions posed by government as well as commercial interests of proprietors and the ruling elite. Kenya has gone through very significant political changes from the monolithic one party state to a multi party system. The role of the media under a monolithic one party system and under the multi party system has been confusing. The growth of the sector and its diversity is seen as seriously compromised by the political controls and the state and party ownership of various critical channels of communication. These kinds of political interferences and control have tended to reduce the effective functional roles of the media as a watchdog on behalf of the majority who do not belong to the ruling elite.