Participatory Communication and Community Empowerment in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Chuka Youth Information Centre, Tharaka Nithi County

Abstract

Participatory communication is increasingly recognized as an important approach to community empowerment because it promotes dialogue, inclusive participation, shared decision-making and local ownership of development processes. However, community-based organizations still face challenges related to unequal participation, access to information and the digital divide. This study examined how participatory communication contributes to community empowerment in the digital age with Chuka Youth Information Centre (CYIC) in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya, as a case study. The study explored the participatory communication approaches used at CYIC, their contribution to community empowerment, the role of digital technologies and the challenges affecting participation. The study was guided by Participatory Communication Theory, Paulo Freire’s Dialogical Theory and Jan Servaes’ Multiplicity Paradigm. A qualitative case study design was adopted with 27 participants purposively selected from CYIC-related programmes and activities. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed manually using thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach. Findings show that CYIC facilitates participation through community dialogue, consultation, shared decision-making, collaboration, civic engagement and feedback. Participants linked these practices with improved access to information, having improved self-confidence in expressing views, local ownership and collective action. Digital technologies, especially WhatsApp and mobile communication, enhanced face-to-face interaction by enabling information sharing, mobilization, follow-up and continued interaction. However, unequal access to devices, high data costs, limited digital literacy skills and lack of internet connectivity constrained meaningful participation for some community members. The study concludes that hybrid participatory communication, which integrates face-to-face and digital approaches, provides a more inclusive basis for community engagement. It recommends that, in order to strengthen digital inclusion, the capacity of facilitators and volunteers be built, and that accessible offline participation methods be developed to support equitable community empowerment.