Disinformation as a threat to Kenya’s National Security in the Contemporary Information Environment

Abstract

21st-century disinformation has become a significantly under-reported issue, even though the security risks it may create to the international system are very severe. This situation has been worsened by the introduction of social media sites, which are usually used to control opinion, perception, and behaviour. This paper investigates disinformation in Kenya and the potential security threats that the phenomenon presents to the country. It is based on the agenda-setting theory and the application of the qualitative research method, which involves non-numeric information. Primary data was complemented with secondary data to strengthen the inquiry and foster richer data collection and analyses. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with subject matter experts, including security officials, scholars, communication experts, and Kenyan citizens who are active users of the social media websites. The primary and secondary data were triangulated in the analysis, revealing that the disinformation on social media has been used to the benefit of radical activists and anti-government actors in Kenya. This form of disinformation is detrimental to the core components of human security, which are freedom from fear and freedom from want. This action, in effect, compromises the security, integrity, and welfare of the citizens. As a result, the paper proposes a review and improvement of government communication policies and invests in new and better technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, to combat disinformation.