Abstract:
Prior research reveals a positive correlation between citizens’ radio exposure and political
knowledge in Africa. However, little is known about the connection between women voters’ radio
exposure and political knowledge during elections in Kenya. This study, therefore, examines the
influence of radio on women voters’ political knowledge on the 2013 general election within the setting
of Kakamega County, western Kenya. The research is anchored on uses and gratifications theory and
knowledge gap theory. It builds on scholars’ recommendations on using local, national, and genderrelevant political questions to link women’s radio exposure and political knowledge. This study adopted a descriptive quantitative correlational survey collecting data from 372 women voters using an
interviewer-administered questionnaire. The results reveal medium to high radio exposure, but low to
moderate political knowledge among majority of the women voters. Radio exposure explained 22.6%
of the positive variance in women voters’ political knowledge. Consequently, radio contributes to
political learning and this has implications for political stakeholders in Kenya. They should harness the
potential of radio to reach and enrich women’s political knowledge. This article provides directions for
future research on the influence of radio exposure on women’s political knowledge and subsequently
electoral participation under Kenya’s new devolved political system.
