Kiswahili Video Messaging on COVID-19 Awareness in Kenya

Abstract

The first cases of Covid-19 in the world can be traced to 2019. However, in Kenya and a number of other East African countries, the first cases of the disease were documented in March 2020. As the day went on, the spread of the virus gained momentum causing panic in the country. Awareness messaging on Covid-19 led by the government and supported by health agencies became regular on the Kenyan media, especially on the radio, television, and mainstream newspapers. Messaging was mainly done in English, Kiswahili, and mother tongue with the earlier enjoying a skewed advantage. A portion of this messaging was done via video, composed locally and internationally. The objective of the study was to examine the strategies employed in this video communication to create awareness of Covid-19. The results demonstrate that in a substantial number of cases, the dissemination was hampered by wanting grammar, English to Kiswahili translational flaws, and unsuitable animatronics. The chapter contends that the Kiswahili video messaging mainly failed the test of communicative value.