[L-R] Dr. Daniel Aswani, Dr. Lydia Radoli, Prof. Laban P. Ayiro, Rt. Hon Moses Wetangula, Prof Levi Obonyo & Dr. Emmanuel Wanyonyi during their recent visit to Parliament

[Nairobi, Wednesday September 18, 2024] The Vice Chancellor Prof. Laban P. Ayiro met with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Moses Wetangula, at Parliament Buildings Nairobi to discuss possible collaboration between Daystar University and the National Assembly.

The delegation from the School of Communication accompanying Prof. Ayiro included Dean of the School Prof. Levi Obonyo, the HoDs for Strategic and Organizational Communication, Dr. Robert Aswani, and Media and Film Studies, Dr. Lydia Radoli, and the Coordinator for PhD in Communication Dr. Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who is also the Deputy Director for Postgraduate Studies.

Prof. Ayiro decried the current negative perception of national institutions, and underscored the need to utilize communication strategies to build positive perceptions that can contribute to the country’s identity and nationhood.

Prof. Ayiro in the meeting with the Speaker

He invited the Speaker to address the Daystar Community of students on matters leadership and governance. Noting that in most cases, leadership in the country was reduced to personalities, but Kenya was an entity not about a single person. Prof. Ayiro emphasized the need to conduct research that informs leadership policies in the country. He urged that such research could be anchored in the Daystar University School of Communication working in conjunction with the Directorate of Research.

The discussions also brought to the fore the importance of communication and its role in shaping positive narratives. Speaking during the meeting Hon. Wetangula said Kenya has many positive stories that often go untold, and that it was essential to shift the narrative and showcase the good in the country, particularly tourist sites and hidden treasures.

The Speaker receiving a gift from Daystar University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayiro

On the other hand, Hon. Wetangula recognized the critical role Kenyan universities play in transforming the nation. He urged the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ayiro to lead initiatives that address Kenya’s most pressing challenges—what he referred to as the "irreducible minimums"—for genuine progress.

The meeting initiated talks towards envisioned areas of collaboration that will include, training members of parliament on political communication, initiating constructive journalism that focused on highlighting development and solution-based issues from parliamentarians rather than a fixation on negative news.

Additionally, Hon. Wetangula emphasized the need for universities to combat the issue of fake academic papers, which undermine the integrity of the education sector. To this end, the School of Communication will write a concept paper making recommendations on how to address this issue and establish future engagements with the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly.

The School of Communication will also lead in the planning and execution of the said talk by the Speaker of the National Assembly that will address students, faculty and the entire University Community on the articulation of important aspects of leadership that can be propelled using dynamic communication strategies. The Infospot will keep readers updated on progress.