Koch FM: From a Culture of Silence to Kenya’s First Community Radio Station
In 2001, Korogocho couldn’t talk about what was happening to it. Gangs controlled the streets, gender-based violence went unreported, and police and local administration couldn’t safely enter parts of the settlement. A “culture of silence” protected the people doing the harm.
A group of young people responded with something almost absurdly small against that backdrop — a beauty pageant. The first Miss Koch Beauty Pageant, 2001, ran under the rallying cry “Never say Die, Yes We Can.” It wasn’t the pageant that mattered. It was what it proved: that young people in Korogocho could organize, speak publicly, and be heard. The proof followed. The 2003 Miss Koch winner was named Eve Young Woman of the Year in 2004, and the initiative won the Mayor’s Award that same year.
Five years later, that instinct became infrastructure. Koch FM 99.9 launched in 2006 — Kenya’s first community radio station, built specifically to give the urban poor a voice. It is still broadcasting today, nineteen years later.
It started with a pageant.
In 2001, Korogocho couldn’t talk about what was happening to it. Gangs controlled the streets, and a culture of silence protected the people doing harm. The first Miss Koch Beauty Pageant, under the cry “Never say Die, Yes We Can,” proved young people could organize, speak publicly and be heard. The 2003 winner was named Eve Young Woman of the Year in 2004, and the initiative went on to win the Mayor’s Award (2004) and the Mashinani Award (2005).
From a pageant to the airwaves.
Five years later, that instinct became infrastructure. Koch FM 99.9 launched in June 2006, founded by ten young people from Korogocho and run by the community’s own youth. Neighbours donated seats, tables and books, and early partners included the Institute of Policy Analysis, Norwegian Church Aid and Pamoja Trust.
Kenya’s first community radio station
On air for 20 years, reaching communities from Korogocho to Kariobangi, Huruma, Mathare, Babadogo and Dandora.
On air today
From its first broadcasts, Koch FM has run local news packaged for Korogocho in Kiswahili and English, programmes for women led by a local female reporter, and live outdoor performances with local artists. Its shows today include:
When It Mattered Most
A voice that couldn’t be bought.
Koch FM describes itself as non-partisan. In 2007, after an ethics training, the team agreed that if a political party invited them to a meeting, they would get there under their own steam and skip the bribes.
The 2007 to 2008 crisis
When violence followed the December 2007 general election, Koch FM turned its airtime into a peace and relief effort:
