RNW is one of the Dutch supporters of Ghetto Radio in Nairobi, Kenya, which this year has been holding its own version of Serious Request, a fundraising event in parallel with the annual event organised in the Netherlands by Dutch public network 3FM. Three DJs have been broadcasting live from a special constructed studio called a “glass house”, where they present programmes continuously in shifts and without food for several days, raising money for the fight against malaria. Members of the public can watch the DJ’s in action, make donations and have their Christmas greetings broadcast to friends and family.
The Dutch event has this year been held in Groningen, where the main problems have been snow and freezing temperatures. But in Nairobi, they’ve had problems of a different kind - a tropical storm on Wednesday damaged the temporary studio, which filled with water. Nobody was injured, and the DJs were taken to a hotel where they continued to refuse food. Repairs are being carried out and it is hoped to resume broadcasting from the studio later today, the last day of the campaign.
