Broadcasting and Telecommunication Principal Secretary (PS) Esther Koimett has called on the community radio stations to mobilise resources to advance community interests.
Speaking at Mwachon in Eldama Ravine during the launch of Wingu Radio Station, PS Koimett called on the radio to build on programmes that will empower their local communities towards development.
The PS mentioned education, agriculture and business as some of the avenues that the community radio stations could put emphasis on so as to bring a positive impact in community development.
“Community radios when properly harnessed have proven to be very effective and important tool for mobilizing populations for rural development. It has the power to link and open up rural communities and connect them to the outside world,” said the ps.
Koimett said the government is keen on supporting the creative industry to generate relevant content for the local audience.
She added that the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth affairs through the Media Council of Kenya is working on the guidelines and training of journalism to ensure professionalism in the industry.
The PS said that the government is committed to improving broadcasting sector because of its important role of enabling government initiatives such as providing government announcement services and campaigns as was perfectly proven by the community radios during the COVID 19 pandemic period.
“Wingu Radio is a very important resource that will enable our community to tell its story from their point of view and context and also push their agenda towards growth,” said Koimett.
She said the Mwachon community was lucky to have such a facility and lauded the professionals who took up the mantle to set up the centre, further calling on other professionals countrywide to emulate such success stories.
She called upon the youth to utilize the internet connectivity at the centre which is also a government constituency innovation hub to connect to the rest of the world and also better their lives through the use of ICT facility.
She underscored the significant contribution of ICT and innovation in bridging the gap of unemployment as many youths were now earning from online work.
“Today, we have heard that there is a youth who makes over Sh2 million in a month from online jobs. The government will continue to support innovation and ICT through programmes such as Ajira and internet connectivity so as to have such success stories,” she emphasized.
The PS witnessed the signing of a pact between Afrilab, a network of innovation hubs across Africa, and Association of Country Innovation Hubs, an association linking ICT and Innovation hubs in the country.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Afrilab’s Director Nekesa Were said the country hub would benefit from its support on training and availing of internet to the hubs.
Her counterpart who is also the founder and executive of Eldo Hub, Magdalene Jepkemoi welcomed the pact saying they were looking forward to benefit and expand the local hubs.
Konza Technopolis CEO Eng. John Tanui who is the patron of the innovation hub said over 20 partners have helped to build the centre which sits on Mwachon primary School and is run as a CBO in trust by members of the community.
The Centre’s manager Mr. Benjamin Towett called on the parents to send their children to the institution to gain practical knowledge that would lead them to the job market, saying the institution was planning to attain a TVET status in the next one year.
The PS was also accompanied by Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase.
