The Functionality of Four Temperaments and Communication Theories towards the Realisation of Peaceful General Elections in Kenya

Abstract

The paper focuses on the general analysis and functionality of both the four temperaments and communication theories in an attempt to comprehend the process, nature and reality of politics, campaigns and general elections in Kenya. Temperaments theory classifies human personalities into four major categories: sanguine, choleric, melancholic and phlegmatic. The paper proposes to highlight how having clear knowledge of these personalities in the political contexts may help the general public in electing peacemakers. The paper also puts into focus how aspects of communication theory especially speech event and speech act theories may be used in understanding our political scenes. The speech event has been used to summarize the nature of politics in Kenya while speech act theory shows how political utterances can be misjudged by the audience hence fuelling untold violence, hate and even mass action. May be psychologists and discourse experts can play a key role in describing personalities, temperaments of the leaders and analyze their utterances in order to realize peaceful general elections in Kenya that can be emulated by other African leaders in the East African community. Remember, a peaceful country is very important for any citizen towards realization of its goals so as to uplift the social, political and economic sectors. However, a country cannot have peaceful atmosphere if the populace seems to be divided into ethnic lines, jobs given through nepotism and general national developments lopsided. It is a common phenomenon in Kenya that before, during and after general elections, violence generally occurs.  Is it temperaments of the leaders or their utterances during campaigns that contribute to violence?