Laikipia University hopes to reach farmers in its agriculturally rich surrounding through their newly launched community radio station.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Kibett Rotich has said that the radio station reaching Laikipia, Nakuru, Nyandarua and parts of Nyeri counties will help the learning institution to meet its mandate in reaching out to the students and surrounding communities.
“In partnership with the different schools in the university, we will be broadcasting community targeted content so that the community within the 50 km radius can be informed in areas that they care most about including forestry, education, health, water and sanitation among others.
“This project that has been in the works will also help us to meet both goals of offering practical training to our students in broadcast media and reaching out to our community through giving valuable information to them from the research we conduct,” the VC added.
Deputy Director of University Education Nanjakululu Wambirifuma, said that the radio station will help to strengthen the relationship between the institution and neighboring communities through offering education, information and entertainment.
“The radio station should give voice to the research and learning that is happening to the community as a way of creating partnership and appreciation.
The launch of this facility is important to the Ministry of Higher Education as it will ensure that students can better achieve competence in the area of broadcast media and communications,” added Wambirifuma.
Media Council of Kenya (MCK) Regional Coordinator Jackson Karanja also encouraged media students to apply for the Council’s industrial placement programme which is meant to aid students in progression from academia to formulate employment.
“So far, 400 students have completed the three-month long internship and we look forward to receiving the second 2022 cohort as part of our mandate in enhancing media development as envisaged under Article 34(5) of the Constitution,” Karanja added.
Laikipia University FM (LU FM) joins other student-managed radio stations including Kenya Institute of Mass Communication (ECN) radio, Kenyatta University (KU radio), Daystar University (Shine FM), United States International University (USIU radio), Egerton University (Egerton radio) and Maseno University (Equator FM).
By Rahab Naimutie
