Makutano Junction

6.5 million viewers in Kenya and still growing.  It’s a much loved show!

How Kenyans Rate Makutano Junction

(Source: Steadman Research Services, 2008)

• Audience made up of 68% of rural viewers compared to 32% of urban viewers
• Higher female audience than male:  53% women compared to 47% men

• Most popular tv drama on Ugandan television
• Now showing in Tanzania and also on DSTV satellite channel
• Has positive impact on viewers’ knowledge, attitude and practice.  Some examples show this:

Knowledge:

Do you agree with the statement "all parents have the right to become school committee members"

Makutano Junction successfully explores and communicates complex development issues.  These include the widespread problem of primary school girls missing classes during menstruation.  After modelling the problem and its causes in the drama, viewer and non-viewer research revealed a significant increasing in knowledge relating to the problems girls face in school. (Funding and technical advice:  Ford Foundation.  Research: Steadman and Associates)

Attitude

Do you agree with the statement "all parents have the right to become school committee members'

After one of Makutano Junction’s leading, positive, female characters – Mama Mboga – was successfully elected to the Makutano Junction Primary School committee, independent pre and post broadcast research showed widespread changes of attitude among viewers concerning schools’ governance structures (Funding and technical advice: DFID, Kenya office.  Research: Steadman and Associates)

Behaviour:

What container do you use for storing milk?

To counter the common problem of milk being contaminated through poor storage, Makutano modelled best practices for milk storage and transportation.  This resulted in significant technological adoption and behaviour change amongst audiences, pre and post broadcast. (Funding and technical advice: Land o’Lakes, Kenya.  Research, Steadman and Associates),