Exploring the role of Citizen Journalism in Slum Improvement: The Case of Voice of Kibera

This paper explores the role of citizen journalism in the improvement of slums through the Voice of Kibera (VOK) case study. To meet the research objectives, both qualitative and quantitative methods are applied. The study used content analysis, survey, and interview techniques. It concluded that citizen journalism in the VoK uses a participatory, bottom up approach, with the residents taking a lead role in the production and consumption of news, and that it plays its part in improving the lives of people in Kibera, contributing to governance and processes of democracy.The research also concludes that citizen journalism may be sustainable if it is, financed, promoted, resourced with professional journalists, equipped with new technologies and citizens continue to participate. Lack of cooperation from the audience, finance both for the running of the project and salary and technical problems were cited as the major challenges of citizen journalism.