Influence of Radio on Women Voters’ Political Knowledge on the 2013 Kenyan General Election

Okinda, Thomas Ibrahim; Nyambuga, Charles Ongandi; Ojwang, Benson Oduor

dc.contributor.author	Okinda, Thomas Ibrahim
dc.contributor.author	Nyambuga, Charles Ongandi
dc.contributor.author	Ojwang, Benson Oduor
dc.date.accessioned	2020-11-05T06:21:45Z
dc.date.available	2020-11-05T06:21:45Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01-01
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dc.identifier.uri	http://erepository.kafuco.ac.ke/123456789/77
dc.description.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.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries	;Vol. 14, No. 1/2020
dc.subject	Elections; Kakamega County; Political knowledge; Radio exposure; Women voters	en_US
dc.title	Influence of Radio on Women Voters’ Political Knowledge on the 2013 Kenyan General Election	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US