Educate Kenyans about disinformation to reduce manipulation of voters

IEBC have disowned a letter circulating online suggesting decision to leave key election preparations forum was unilateral.

Disinformation was part and parcel of politics long before the emergence of the internet. But the internet - and specifically social media - have exacerbated the spread of disinformation in an unprecedented way. This is due to the ease of access and the potential for information to 'trend' or 'go viral' with minimal effort. As a result of this, social media has become a critical battleground for politicians and political parties.

An estimated 48.4 per cent of social media users in Kenya rely on the same platforms to get news, well above the global average of 34.2 per cent, according DataReportal. What is particularly concerning is that 75 per cent of survey respondents in Kenya are unable to differentiate between real and fake news. That said, Kenyan social media users are becoming increasingly aware and concerned about the presence of online misinformation. If left unchecked, disinformation has the potential to undermine democratic electoral processes.