With recent warnings from Kenya's electoral commission that a rise in ethnically charged “hate speech” threatens Kenya's elections in 2017, the team at HCR partner station, Tana FM, know they have an important role - to promote peace. Elections in the past have led to violence, particularly in Tana River County. Next month, some 22.4 million people will register to vote in the 2017 poll, far more than the 14.4 million who registered for the 2013 election. Reporter Alex Williams provides an update on Tana FM's progress following it's launch last year.
Tana FM prepares communities for El Nino
As the Kenyan Meteorological office warns coastal areas in Kenya of the high risk of flooding due to El Niño, newly founded HCR partner station Tana FM , is playing its part to get communities prepared. Having gone on the air with the first test broadcasts only in May this year, Alex Stout and Jon Hargreaves from HCR UK were joined by new Kenyan team-member Sheila Maina, to train the Tana FM team on how to link with other emergency service providers and the community, to promote awareness and give critical information to help people survive in the event of flooding. The people of Tana River have experienced floods in the past, but the mention of El Niño reflects back to 1997 when floods devastated the region and displaced tens of thousands of people. Officials are warning that as many as 70,000 people could be displaced by the rising waters in the next few weeks.
Tana FM's Shedrack Hiribae interviews Dr Badru Mohaji, Director of Special Programmes and Cohesion, about Tana River County's flood preparations, with support from HCR's Alex Stout.
In its short existence, Tana FM, the first community station in Tana River County, has already become a trusted voice in the community. The station's CEO, Shedrack Hiribae, says Tana FM has already begun to have a big impact. Mr Hiribae described how the team's peace-building initiatives have promoted dialogue between conflicted communities and also how mango farmers have got a better deal for the sale of their produce as a result of the station's advocacy work.
Tana FM producer Maureen talks to Peter Munyonki from the County's Disaster Response Team
A new voice for peace in Eastern Kenya's troubled Tana River County
Since the nineteenth century, eastern Kenya's Tana River county has often been the scene of violent conflict, largely between two ethnic groups, the dominant Orma, who are nomadic cattle-herders and the Pokomo, who are farmers. Many of the disputes have been over land use and access to water, however the intensity of these conflicts has increased in recent decades. This has been fuelled by the easy access of weapons flooding across the nearby border with Somalia, growing poverty, the pressure caused by poorly managed resources and political interference. Add to that toxic mix, the extremist group Al Shebab, which is trying to destabilise Kenya and Tana River County, is at risk of descending into violent conflict.
The tranquil Tana River, Kenya's largest river, has often been the scene of violent conflict over many decades
Now there's a new voice in town, promoting peace and community cohesion. With the help of equipment and training from HCR UK, Tana FM is now on the air broadcasting test messages from the capital Hola. While they wait for the licensing authority to issue the licence, the community is seeking to demonstrate that it has not only the capability, but the passion to deliver a new message - one of hope and harmony. The station is already attracting the attention of a number of key stakeholders, who believe it will make a difference. Former MP and prominent anti-FGM campaigner Jebii Kilimo, believes the station will be a powerful tool for getting the message out to difficult-to-reach communities.
HCR is working with local and international partners to build local capacity and planning to extend the reach of the station, to ensure that coverage gets to the areas at greatest risk, often where rumours and misinformation fuel tensions. Shedrack Hiribae, CEO of Kenya Sustainable Health Aid (KESHA), who first had the vision for a radio station, believes this "new voice in town" will fill a gap in getting reliable and objective information to the community as well as being a voice for the community. "Tana FM will not only promote peace, it will help development and be a force for positive social change," he said.
Ancient weapons used in past conflicts are giving way to modern weaponry which come across borders from conflicts in neighbouring states, like Somalia, with devastating effect
VIDEO DIARY: Peacebuilding in Kenya
Broadcast journalist Alex Williams has joined HCR UK's Alex Stout to develop a community-centred radio station in Eastern Kenya's troubled Tana River County. Here's his latest video diary.
Peace Building in Tana Delta, Kenya
The Tana Delta in Kenya has for decades been the scene of violent conflict between two ethnic groups, the dominant Ormo who are nomadic cattle-herders, and the Pokomo, who are farmers. This news article from last year, speaks of the violence which plagues this region.
This month Jon Hargreaves and Alex Stout (HCR UK) traveled to this violence-torn district, accompanied by a young journalist, Alex Williams, who reported on the HCR community workshops conducted. The video report provides a great insight into HCR’s involvement and the hope for a peace-building radio initiative which can help prevent violent attacks occurring in the future. View the video below:
A first consultation and workshop drew key stakeholders from local government and service providers, followed by a second which brought together members of the different tribal communities to work on plans for a community-centred radio station, which will tackle many of the region's problems.
Besides a peace agenda, the station will help promote better farming and irrigation practices, education and health as well as tackling difficult social issues such as witchcraft, female genital mutilation, early marriages, polygamy and segregation against women.
While the project will require foreign funding for the station set-up, it has a great chance of becoming completely locally sustainable within the first year.
Stay tuned for further updates from Jon and Alex as they navigate their way through a very complex situation where tribe, religion, ethnicity, family and politics make a very potent and toxic brew that could flare up in violence at any time.
Community members from Tana River County in Kenya are eager to be involved in a community-centred media strategy for peace-building and addressing social issues.
Alex (left)) and Jon (right) working with local community members on a "mapping" activity to identify community needs.
Jon, Alex and Alex with community members from Tana Delta, Kenya.