Korogocho - Part Three - Jajaroka

Radio DJ Dennis Kamau leans over his desktop computer, with his headphones around his neck, setting up for the next song. Dennis looks to be in his late teens, and for three hours a day, four days a week, he controls the airwaves of Korogocho at Koch-FM, the community radio station.


Dennis Kamau, DJ at Koch-FM

Dennis's music appeals to young people - a mix of hip hop and African beats, but Dennis's real goal is to educate the community about issues that are important to them, and to give call-in listeners the opportunity to discuss their problems. Calling the goal of the station "edutainment," as posters throughout the community advertise, Koch-FM is a primary source of education and entertainment for the residents here, since many cannot read, and televisions are rare.



The radio station was started nearly three years ago, when members of the community turned to the then-chief of the district for help in setting up a radio station. After initially being opposed to the idea, the chief agreed to help build the station - the studio consists of a desk, a computer, and a microphone in a 5'x7' room. That's all they need, though, to reach a large number of listeners. "My program is a very wide program," Dennis says. "It deals with entreprenurship, youth issues, the strength of a woman, so many things."

Dennis's program is called "Jajaroka" - which is Swahili for "getting wise."

"That's the purpose of my program," says Dennis. "You have to jajaroka. You have to become clear. You have to become wise."