"An analysis of Kenya sign language in children’s programming on Kenyan" by Anne Junny Sato

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Executive Masters in Media Leadership and Innovation (EMMLI)

First Supervisor/Advisor

Hesbon Owilla

Second Supervisor/Advisor

David Muturi,

Department

Graduate School of Media and Communications

Abstract

In Kenya, the inclusion of Kenya Sign Language (KSL) in children's programs on television holds significant potential for fostering inclusivity and accessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community. However, the effective integration of KSL into children's programming requires careful planning, consideration of linguistic and cultural nuances, and utilization of appropriate strategies. This capstone project aims to analyse the utilisation of KSL in children’s TV programming and propose effective strategies for incorporating KSL in children's programs on Akili TV, a prominent television channel in Kenya. Drawing from linguistic theories, such as Chomsky's Language Acquisition Device (LAD), and global best practices advocated by UNESCO and the World Health Organization, the research emphasizes the importance of introducing KSL during early childhood when language acquisition is most critical. This project used a quantitative approach to comprehensively investigate the effective strategies for incorporating Kenya Sign Language (KSL) into children's programs on Akili TV. Content analysis was employed to systematically examine the current utilization of Kenya Sign Language in children’s programming on Akili TV as well as assess the cognitive, linguistics and social development elements of KSL incorporated in Akili TV content. This involved reviewing and coding existing program content to assess how KSL is currently integrated, identifying areas where KSL is underrepresented or could be enhanced and most importantly code the elements. This analysis provided a clear picture of the existing state of KSL integration and highlighted gaps and opportunities for improvement. The findings provided empirical insights into the barriers and opportunities for effectively integrating KSL into children's programming on Akili TV. By addressing the challenges and providing practical solutions for incorporating KSL into children's programs on Akili TV, this capstone project aims to develop a strategy document to guide the effective strategies for incorporating KSL on Akili TV programs.

Download

Share

COinS