Vice-chancellor Prof Laban Ayiro opens the 73rd ICA conference Kenyan Chapter

For the third year running, Daystar University hosted the International Communication Association (ICA) Annual Conference at Daystar University Nairobi Campus from May 25-27, 2003. Daystar University is the Regional Hub which covers East, Central and Southern Africa 

An important inclusion in the 73^rd ICA Annual Conference was the collaboration with ICA Kenya Chapter which was launched earlier this year.  

This year, the international ICA Annual conference was held in Toronto, Canada, where Sr. Prof. A. L. Lando led a delegation of Kenyan scholars to present papers and participate in the conference.  While the ICA Toronto ran from May 24 - 28, the Nairobi regional hub ran from May 25 - 27, 2023. 

The opening ceremony for the Kenya Chapter was graced by ICA President Prof. Noshir Contractor who attended virtually via zoom.  In his remarks, Prof. Contractor announced the launch of two new chapters, India and France, making six, the ICA regional chapters. Other Regional Chapters include Kenya, Nigeria, China and Indonesia.  

In her presentation delivered from Toronto via zoom, the Director, Research and Graduate Studies Sr. Prof. A. L. 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 discussed milestones for ICA Kenya Chapter, saying that the journey began in 2014 during the ICA conference held in Washington Seattle, USA, where she first challenged ICA executives to bring ICA to African. Sr. Prof. Lando revealed that from that communication, a team was sent to Kenya to scout for possibilities of hosting ICA Regional conference in Nairobi Kenya. This led to the hosting of the very first ICA Regional Conference in Africa, hosted by Daystar University Nairobi Kenya, in 2016.  

The 2023 Nairobi Hub conference was graced by Daystar University Vice-chancellor, Prof. Laban P. Ayiro. In his remarks, Prof. Ayiro submitted that authenticity is truly godlike and that authentic communication leads to more sincere connections and helps organizations to avoid forcing relationships. “When you see an institution doing well, it has lifted the gear of authenticity,” he said. 

The Deputy Vice-chancellor for Academic, Research and Student Affairs (ARSA) Prof. Faith Nguru also underscored the importance of authenticity for effective communication, saying it leads to more sincere relationships.  

“When you communicate authentically, you bring your whole self, your thoughts, feelings, and experience into the communication,” said Prof. Nguru, adding that authentic communication is characterised by honesty, integrity, empathy and self-awareness. 

The Deputy Chairman, ICA Nairobi Chapter Mr. Paul Kimweli said that local ICA chapters will remove barriers to attending international conferences, nurture young career researchers as they conceptualize their research methodologies, and advance African scholarship. 

PhD candidates and early scholars who participated in panel discussion included Kevin Mudavadi and Dr. Joy Kibarabara, while Miriam Ayieko, Magdalene Kiyeng and Wangeci Kanyeki shared their experiences  on how they got to know about ICA and how they have benefited from ICA mentorship, publishing, and scholarship. 

Paper presenters in the three-day conference included Mercy Chebet from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Brian Kweyu from Catholic University of East Africa, Dr. Lydia Radoli who presented virtually on Suppressed Narratives: A lens through the life cycle of virtual rhetors. Her paper captured how audio-visual storytellers are affected by the traumatic events they observe. The Acting Director, Quality Assurance, of Tangaza University College Dr. Lucy A. Wakiaga, spoke about research mentorship and publication.   

While other presentations were made in Toronto Canada, ICA Kenya Chapter was able to virtually connect with ICA Indonesia Chapter in a session titled Communication and Technology Progress and Challenges, in which ICA Board member, Dr. Margaret Mtange of Multi-Media University participated.  

The ICA Kenya chapter Board of Directors was unveiled and introduced to conference participants. Conversely, the Vice Chair Mr. Paul Kimweli encouraged participants to register as ICA Kenya Chapter members, stating membership benefits. The next annual conference, ICA 2024 will be held in Gold Coast, Australia.