The Old Meets the New: Understanding Climate Change Through Anyole 101.2 Fm Community Radio, Emuhaya, Kenya

Abstract

This study set out to establish the link between scientific and indigenous knowledge in addressing climate change in rural Kenya. The objectives of the study were to identify indigenous knowledge on knowledge on climate change used by the Nganyi community, and to determine the extent of indigenous climate change integration in the programming of Anyole 101.2 FM. The study adopted Urie Bronfebrenner's Ecological Model of Communication Process (EMCP) later improved by Davis Foulger which highlights a close relationship between message, media and language on one hand and ecology on the other. The model offers a concrete framework that accounts for the reciprocal interaction of behavior and environment. A mixed qualitative/ quantitative descriptive design method was used and 101 respondents interviewed. The data was collected by the administration of questionnaires, in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussions. The questionnaires were administered to 90 radio callers who form 30% of the approximately 300 who call the station daily. In-depth interview was done with Bousted Mukolwe, the lone meteorologist and the station and FGD's to the rain makers and producers/presenters. The study established that compared to scientific knowledge indigenous knowledge was perceivably more accurate in weather prediction. It also found out that majority of the listeners to Anyole radio were women who incidentally played a crucial in promoting agriculture. The study recommends development of policies to guide the integration of indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge to ensure smooth implementation of climate change adaptation strategies, mainstreaming of gender initiatives into the Nganyi community rain making activities, expanding of the Anyole Fm signal to reach more listeners among others.