Wajir Community Radio wins best station, beating Star FM in Kuza Award

NAIROBI—Wajir Community Radio scooped best regional station in last night’s Kuza Awards At Movenpick Hotel, beating seasoned Nairobi based “Star FM” which came second. Star FM won the the Compliance Award for Commercial/Public Radio.

The award ceremony was orgernised by the Communications Authority of Kenya. The broadcast regulator grouped the awards into three broad categories: Regulatory Compliance Award, People’s Choice Award and Mashujaa Award to celebrate  excellence,  responsive broadcasting, consumer participation and broadcasting for socio-economic development.

CA Director General Mr.Francis Wangusi said the award “has become the most important event for us in the next 10 years (as) Kenya will become a hub for information sharing to satisfy creativity of our people.” 

The Pricipal Secretary for ICT and Innovation, Jerome Ochieng stated that broadcasting in Kenya had a long way to go, insisting that broadcasters should adapt to changing technology to advance content development and distribution. 

“Players in the broadcasting market must continue adapting to changing technologies through responsive business model,” he noted.

The PS added that radio still has strong influence on listeners.

”Broadcasting by its nature exerts a strong influence on society, language, culture and moral values,” Ochieng said.

The ministry of ICT started studio mashinani  initiative to give platforms to youths in various parts of the country to generate useful local content. 

“The creative economy has huge potential to offer  immense opportunities for our youth through content creation,” Ochieng noted.

Wajir Governor, Mohamed Abdi congratulated the radio manager Halima Kahiye and her team saying county would take pride in the achievement.

“We take great pride as a county for the victory of our Wajir based station for its objective reporting to the public.

The Radio has been the voice and identity of Wajir people.“Kudos to the Radio Manager Halima Kahiya and the entire crew of the station for raising our flag high,” Mohamed said.
Wajir Community Radio made it’s first broadcast in May, 2010 as the pioneer community radio.  Covering a geographical  reach of 140km, WCR broadcasts in Somali, Borana and Swahili.