Use of Humour in Covid-19 Communication in Kenya: A Case of Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe’s Covid-19 Speeches.
| dc.contributor.author | Letting, Joan | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-01-27T10:59:29Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-01-27T10:59:29Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.description | MASTER OF ARTS in Communication | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study examines Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe's strategic use of humour in Kenya’s COVID-19 communications. Despite the effectiveness of humour in public messaging, its use in serious health crises like COVID-19 raises concerns about potential risks, such as trivialising the severity of the pandemic. The research aimed to investigate how humour was employed in COVID-19 Communications, evaluate its effectiveness, and assess public perception using the Play Theory of Mass Communication and the Relief Theory. A qualitative approach incorporating an indepth interview with CS Kagwe, an analysis of 30 purposively sampled televised briefings, and semi-structured interviews with 26 youth from the Starehe constituency, were selected using convenience sampling. Data were analysed using textual analysis for the videos and thematic analysis for the interviews, using NVivo software, Excel, and manual coding techniques. The study found that humour was used deliberately to alleviate public anxiety and enhance message retention. It resonated well across various demographic groups, contributing to increased public engagement and compliance with health protocols. However, some dissenting voices expressed concerns that humour might have downplayed the pandemic’s seriousness or alienated those directly affected by the virus. Humour, when used strategically and in alignment with cultural sensitivities, can be an effective tool in public health communication, especially during crises. The absence of significant backlash suggests that the humour employed was appropriate for the Kenyan context. The findings indicate that humour when used strategically and aligned with cultural sensitivities, can be an effective tool in public health communication during crises. The study recommends that future public health strategies consider integrating humour to improve message retention and public cooperation. However, care must be taken to avoid trivialising serious issues. Further research should explore the long-term effects of humour in public health messaging and its effectiveness across different cultural contexts. | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Letting, J. (2024). Use of Humour in Covid-19 Communication in Kenya: A Case of Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe’s Covid-19 Speeches. Daystar University, School of Communication. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://repository.daystar.ac.ke/handle/123456789/6151 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Daystar University, School of Communication. | |
| dc.subject | Cabinet Secretary | |
| dc.subject | Use of humour | |
| dc.subject | Public messaging | |
| dc.subject | COVID-19 | |
| dc.title | Use of Humour in Covid-19 Communication in Kenya: A Case of Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe’s Covid-19 Speeches. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |