Bus Radio Expands

In 2010, a youthful group of young professional journalists and activists came together with the idea of working together as journalists. This group later transformed into a Community Based Organization (CBO) in 2014. As a CBO, they decided to apply for a frequency from the Communications Authority of Kenya to offer broadcasting services. Their request from the authority was granted in October 2015, under the name Bus Radio.

Bus Radio rode into 2020 with a zeal to expand its reach and serve the Kajiado audience with more vibrant entertaining and educative content. Bus Radio now spreads, from its initial reach of Kajiado township, to just over 70km to reach Kiserian, Ngong, Magadi, Emali, Mashuru, and Maili (on the road to Namanga). Their audience is now able to access the much-needed content that informs, educates and entertains.

The station increased its daily broadcast hours from 6am to midnight. This increase has enabled its radio staff to prepare a variety of programmes for listeners. Apart from entertainment shows, Bus radio broadcasts development content that addresses gender issues which include girls’ education and female genital mutilation. The programme schedule includes Rasilimali Zetu (our resources), Maji ni Uhai (water is life), and the agriculture programme in partnership with Kilimo media, Oleramatani. Through its partnership with Kilimo Media, Bus radio has benefited from on-site and remote capacity building workshops and trainings that have enabled the station to not only package engaging agricultural programmes in various formats but to also identify and respond to farmers information needs. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kilimo Media joined other partners in supporting Bus Radio to produce messages that create awareness about the pandemic to the community, majority of whom are livestock keepers who have been affected by the closure of livestock markets and restrictions on movement due to COVID-19.