Transformative Communicative Acts: A Reflection of Lived Experiences of Select Kenyans that Met their Community Developmental Needs

Abstract

The core of all development is communication that gives people ability to conceive of desired change, imagine how to change it and make a choice to change. This study aimed to establish what motivated some people to communicate in a way that influenced others to engage in beneficial and developmental actions. It also sought to establish what the people understood as development, how it would be realized, how they engaged with the people and got people involved in their transformation. The study used a qualitative research design to select ten Kenyans to share their life stories. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. Analysis focused on participants’ narratives, and especially those parts of their stories that responded to the research question- what motivated the participants to act for the benefit of others? From the findings, the participants were continually critical of their lives and that led them to searching for solutions. That left them with a sense of inner security that could have given the freedom to be authentic and ready to learn and share in the on-going social construction of reality that resulted in transformation. The study showed that a sense of self, curiosity, questioning, and trusting, caring and seeing new possibilities as necessary to positively influence other people leading to both personal and national development. The study concluded that communicative development is a combination of several factors including; family background, love of God and people, and interpersonal communication skills including speaking more than one language. The study recommends promotion of economic equity, strengthening family ties that incorporate ideals and aspirations which would inculcate in people unique, curious, and continuous learning with deep love for God and people. The study also recommends development of an African Communication Theory on what motivates communicative acts that lead to societal transformation.