Following the current Generation Z-led demonstration, the media has been essential in chronicling the many events, including clashes between law enforcement agencies and civilians. The protests have demonstrated the importance of the media in holding both sides accountable and the Fourth Estate’s enormous influence on public opinion.
The demonstrations have resulted in scores of civilian deaths and injuries, shaking the country to its core and painting a fairly unfavorable picture of the National Police Service. If recent events are any indication, the media’s portrayal of police may have ramifications for police and public relations.
This is only one of many examples of how the media may affect citizen opinion, whether positive or negative. Examining media representation and public perception simultaneously could assist to bridge the gap in understanding how the public forms opinions based on media reports.
Although media coverage of police can have an influence on public-police relations, few studies have examined how it affects public view of the police.
This was revealed during a seminar titled Media representation of police in Kenya and its implication on police-citizen relations on Friday, July 5, 2024 organized by the College of Human Resource Development (COHRED).
The seminar’s objective was not only to raise public awareness of the research project but also identify possible partners and include them in the planning stages of the project.
The Research project has been realized through a collaborative effort between JKUAT, University of Massachusetts, Lowell (UMASS LOWELL) and the Carnegie African Diaspora fellowship program (CADFP).
According to Dr. Masaya H. Chakava, a lecturer from the department of Media Technology and Applied Communication (MTAC), JKUAT, a descriptive and interpretative approach will be used in the study, with a primary focus on articles from the Standard and Daily Nation newspapers published between 2022 and the present.
“The study will concentrate on print media and utilize an inter-disciplinary strategy and a mixed method approach,” explained Dr. Chakava who is a co-principal investigator in the project.
Prof. Joselyne L. Chenane of UMASS LOWELL’s School of Criminology and Justice Studies stated that the project was made possible by the CADFP, which seeks to foster collaboration between African higher education institutions and African born diaspora scholars through research collaboration, graduate student mentorship, and curriculum co-development.
“With JKUAT being a recognized African institution under the Carnegie program, as a scholar, I am able to collaborate with Dr. Chakava through this initiative,” said Prof. Chenane who is also a co-principal investigator and a Carnegie fellow.
Further stating that the project will provide students who participate with the opportunity to refine their research skills, be mentored, and play a significant role in the publication of the research findings.
Prof. Maurice Sakwa, Dean, School of Communication and Development studies, lauded the research initiative, stating that research is a critical tool in addressing grey areas that plague the nation, and that the research findings could help media practitioners improve their reporting, among other things.
