Kisii University is on the verge of setting up a community radio station that will broadcast news within Kisii and Nyamira counties.
The radio station will be operated by trained broadcasters who will be mandated to train students pursuing media courses.
Dr Vincent Moracha, who heads the media department on Thursday confirmed that the process was in advanced stages with an approval for frequency expected by the end of this year from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK).
He also said the equipment for and other facility for the radio station had been procured from India and was undergoing inspection at CAK.
“This is a dream come true because the talks to set a radio station started many years ago. We are now waiting for an approval from CAK of frequencies and hopefully by April 2016 we will be on air. It will also offer training for upcoming broadcasters a part from performing the usual functions of news dissemination,” he said.
Moracha also hinted a possibility of including the local Ekegusii dialect as one of the programmes in the new radio to inform majority of residents from Gusii region.
“The frequencies will be small because we will be covering Kisii and Nyamira. Use of local dialect in some programs will be recommendable because of the local audience but that will be a supplement of English and Swahili programs,” said the former Editor with The Standard.