RUBEN FM

Ruben FM is Mukuru’s First community radio station that aims to empower and unite Mukuru Community through our slogan “ UNGANISHA JAMII” .It broadcasts from Ruben Centre, a faith based organization in Mukuru Kwa Ruben. The radio station was launched on 19th November 2016. Our area of broadcasting is 3km radius which covers Mukuru Kwa Ruben slum, Mukuru Kwa Njenga slum, Kware, Imara Daima,Viwandani area, Pipeline and Mukuru Kayaba.
VISION
To empower and unite the Mukuru Community.
MISSION
To offer quality educative, informative and entertaining programs to Mukuru Community

OBJECTIVES

To strengthen Ruben Centre’s capacity for delivery on its mission.
To create and deliver development oriented information to the residents of Mukuru.
To build and increase public awareness in a number of critical issues such as health matters, business and entrepreneurship, environmental awareness and security.
To enhance the education of school pupils through targeted audio programs.
To empower individuals and the Mukuru Community as a whole, through education and distribution/dispersal of information.
To enhance peace and harmony in Mukuru.

ABOUT MUKURU COMMUNITY

Mukuru slum is home to an estimated population of 752,526 people living in 193,539 households and occupying 52.5 km2 of land (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2010). The populace comprises of relatively homogeneous groups of people in the low ends of income. 60% of the inhabitants earn less than KES 10,000 per month, which means they live on less than a US dollar per person, per day. The poorest 15% in Mukuru earn less than KES 5,000 per month, therefore living on less than half a dollar per person, per day (Save the Children Annual Report, 2003).
The implication of this is inadequate housing, poor sanitation, hunger, lack of access to education, and increase in diseases.
In the perspective of city life, the slum community remains largely marginalized. It is associated with dirt, diseases, crime, poor sanitation and poverty. Whereas, the people living in the slum do so as a necessity – crowding and poverty has made it difficult for the establishment of social amenities. Access to education in Mukuru is low and most of those in the productive age bracket missed out on education in their formative years.
The Kenya Demographic Household Survey 2008 points to a strong correlation between the level of education achieved and the living standards, as well as the ability to synthesize information and translate it into social action. The least educated are the worse off in terms of social and economic empowerment. The situation is even worse for the women, youth and children who have such a background or are living in households headed by the least educated.
Participation in decision making is also weak amongst the community; there are minimal avenues for expression and dialogue. Community members are, for the most part, not aware of existing policies and programs, and what bearing those elements may have on their lives.
Despite this, all is not lost. Socio-economic situations can be improved through increased access to strategic and relevant information delivered in easy to consume ways.

PROGRAMS
Ruben FM has ten live continuity programs in a week which tackles different issues in the community. The programs entail interaction between the presenters and the community. Some of the issues discussed in our programs are:
a. Political issues
b. Health
c. Nutrition
d. Human Rights
e. Education
f. Relationships and lifestyle
g. Gender Based Violence
h. Sports
i. Environment and Infrastructure
j. Youth empowerment
k. Women empowerment
l. Parenting
m. Insecurity etc.