The East African Communication Association (EACA) will host its 16th conference in Kenya, with organisers promising a broad, cross-cutting conversation on media innovation, peace journalism, digital inequality and policy impact.
Dr Gladys Muasya.
The conference, scheduled for 26–28 August 2026 at Saint Paul’s University, about 30 kilometres from Nairobi County, will be held under the theme “Reimagining Communication in Africa: Media Innovation and Global Collaboration.”
In an interview, conference coordinator Dr Gladys Muasya said the event aims to move beyond the traditionally narrow focus of communication conferences.
“Many communication conferences tend to look at communication in a very limited way, mostly media and journalism,” she said. “But communication is wide. It touches health, climate, religion, politics, education and technology. We felt we needed a broader theme to attract more participants and engage across divides.”
Responding to technological andsocial shifts
One of the central objectives of the conference is to examine the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on media practice, communication careers and community engagement in Africa, with attention to ethical, cultural and regulatory concerns.
Dr Muasya said rapid technological change has reshaped journalism, education and public discourse across the continent.
“There’s a lot of AI-driven conversation affecting our journalism, our education, our culture — everything is being affected by technology, and it is here to stay,” she said.
The conference will also address pressing regional issues, including misinformation, digital inequality, media sustainability, representation and regulation.
Recent youth-led demonstrations in Kenya and tensions in parts of East Africa, including South Sudan, have further underscored the importance of communication in conflict prevention and democratic participation.
“We have seen youth using digital platforms to air their views. We cannot ignore that,” Muasya noted. “There are conflicts in the region, health challenges, gender issues and climate communication concerns. All these require serious communication scholarship and practice.”
Focus on peace and health communication
A key pillar of the 2026 gathering will be the promotion of peace journalism — strengthening ethical, conflict-sensitive reporting practices that enhance social cohesion and support sustainable development.
Muasya said the organisers are keen to involve community actors working in peacebuilding and conflict resolution to ensure discussions move beyond theory.
Health communication, often overlooked in communication forums, will also receive attention.
“Health is usually ignored in many conferences, yet it is critical. Religion, too, is now using media spaces in new ways,” she said. “We want this conference to be cross-cutting and inclusive.”
Bridging academia and practice
In response to criticism that such conferences tend to attract mainly academics, Muasya emphasised that the 2026 event will actively seek practitioner involvement.
“We are engaging industry players, media houses and community organisations,” she said. “We want practitioners, policymakers and the community to feel the impact of this conference.”
Organisers are in discussions with Kenyan media houses to secure keynote speakers and panellists from the industry. EACA President Prof Margaret (surname not provided during the interview) is also expected to convene high-level panels.
While keynote speakers are yet to be confirmed, Muasya said industry participation and sponsorship-linked panels are being negotiated, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks.
The conference also aims to generate actionable outcomes for policy, education, professional practice and community development — positioning Africa as an active contributor to global communication innovation.
Youth-driven initiatives and student engagement
Another major objective is to showcase African-led innovations in media and communication, including youth-driven and community-based initiatives that strengthen storytelling, journalism and digital engagement.
“We want to engage as many students as possible,” Muasya said. “Students are often sidelined, but they are key to shaping the future of communication.”
The call for papers has already been released, and abstracts are beginning to come in. Organisers are distributing the call widely across the region in a bid to attract diverse participation.
A return to Kenya
The 2026 conference marks a return of EACA’s flagship event to Kenya after several years. Muasya described this as an opportunity to broaden local awareness of the association and increase Kenyan participation.
“Sometimes the cost of travel makes it difficult for many to attend when the conference is hosted in another country,” she said. “Now that it is here at home, we want to sensitise as many Kenyans as possible about EACA.”
Beyond Kenya, the organisers hope the conference will shape communication dialogue across East Africa and beyond.
“At the end of the day, we don’t want this to be a conference where academics just present papers to each other and go home,” Muasya said. “We want the community, practitioners and policymakers to feel its impact.”
With its wide-ranging agenda — from AI and digital inequality to peace journalism and youth engagement — EACA 2026 is positioning itself as a platform to rethink how communication can address the continent’s most urgent challenges.
Please click here to access the call for abstracts.
This articel was originally published by Ajenda Newsletter