• Daystar University
• 10 Nov, 2023

By Wangeci Kanyeki & Jean Murungi

The International Communication Association (ICA), a global academic association for communication scholars, successfully launched a Kenya Chapter on the 5th of April, 2023 in an auspicious intervarsity event held at Daystar University, Nairobi.

The ICA Kenya Chapter is chaired by Sr. Prof. A. L. Lando (Daystar University) and spearheaded by a board of 19 members mainly from universities and one not-for-profit organization. The universities involved are: The Aga Khan University (Kenya), Daystar University, Koitaleel Samoei University College, Laikipia University, Multimedia University of Kenya, Tangaza University College, and The Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The Africa Community Leadership and Development (ACLAD) is the not-for profit non-Governmental organization involved.

Speaking during the ICA Kenya Chapter launch, the Daystar University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Laban Ayiro said, “This is a crucial initiative which will provide a vital platform for communication scholars in Kenya and beyond to connect, collaborate and share knowledge and expertise. In collaboration with other universities, we look forward to advancing the goal of improving the skillset of researchers in Africa and unleashing the latent academic potential in Africa.”

According to Dr. Patrick Okanga who heads the ICA(K) Finance Committee,

“The chapter inauguration took off successfully and as at 22nd August 2023, the recruitment drive had registered 90 members into the Kenya Chapter. The Chapter has also formulated various working committees, responsible for different assignments within the board of management to enable effective means of planning and execution of the chapter deliberations. Frequent consultations within the board have resulted in tangible outputs of the Chapter, and the membership committee led by Dr. Margaret Mtange of Multimedia University has been on a recruitment drive to benefit as many members as possible in line with the objectives of ICA Global.”

As part of supporting the academic communities in Kenya, the ICA Kenya Chapter hosted the 73rd International Communication Association Regional Hub at Daystar University, Nairobi campus from the 25th to the 27th of May, 2023; while the Toronto conference was held from the 24th to the 28th of May, 2023.

Prof. Noshir Contractor, the ICA President, graced the ICA Kenya Chapter opening ceremony. In his remarks via Zoom, Prof. Contractor announced the launch of two new chapters in India and France, making a total of six ICA regional chapters. Other regional chapters include Kenya, Nigeria, China and Indonesia.

During the launch of the Kenya Chapter, its Chairperson, Sr. Prof. A. L. Lando was in Toronto leading a delegation of Kenya Scholars. In her online presentation, Sr. Prof. Lando appreciated Prof. Contractor for ‘making her dream come true’ by bringing ICA to Africa through the launch of regional Chapters in Kenya and Nigeria.

Sr. Prof. Lando, who in 2023 was also appointed to join the ICA Global Strategic Plan Task Force, shared the milestones of the ICA Kenya Chapter. The journey began in 2014 during the ICA conference held in the USA at Washington Seattle, where she first challenged ICA executives to bring ICA to Africa. Sr. Prof. Lando revealed that from that communication, ICA gave her the challenge to organise the first ICA activity in Africa in just two years.

The ICA President at the time, Prof. Amy Jordan, flew to Kenya to scout for possibilities of hosting an ICA Regional conference in Nairobi Kenya. This led to the hosting of the very first ICA Regional Hub in Africa, held in Daystar University in October 2016.

The ICA Kenya Chapter Deputy chairman, Mr. Paul Kimweli, is confident that the ICA Kenya Chapter will advance African scholarship as it provides professional guidance to students in communication, thus advances their professionalism and nurtures young career researchers to conceptualise their research methodologies.

During the three-day regional hub held in Nairobi from the 25th to the 27th of May 2023, participants listened to papers presented in person at the Daystar University DAC Auditorium by: Mercy Chebet of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Brian Kweyu of The Catholic University of East Africa. Virtual presentations were made by: Dr. Lydia Radoli of Daystar University on Suppressed Narratives

(A lens through the life cycle of virtual rhetors which captures how audio- visual storytellers are affected by the traumatic events they observe); and Dr. Lucy A. Wakiaga, Acting Director, Quality Assurance, Tangaza University College who spoke about research mentorship and publications. Ph.D candidates and early scholars too had their opportunity as Kevin Mudavadi, Dr. Joy Kibarabara, Miriam Ayieko, Magdalene Kiyeng and Wangeci Kanyeki shared their experiences of how they got to know about the ICA, and how they have benefited from the ICA through mentorship, publishing, and scholarships.

The ICA Kenya Chapter was also able to virtually connect with the ICA Indonesia Chapter in a session titled ‘Communication and Technology Progress and Challenges’ in which ICA Board member, Dr. Margaret Mtange of Multimedia University participated.

Before the launch ended, the ICA Kenya chapter Board of Directors were unveiled and introduced to the conference participants. Stating the benefits of becoming a member, Deputy Chairman, Mr. Paul Kimweli encouraged participants to register and join the ICA Kenya Chapter. He also announced that the next ICA Annual conference will be themed Communication and Global Human Rights and will be held in Gold Coast, Australia in June 2024.