Nanyuki: Journalists and bloggers in Laikipia County have been sensitized on responsible and objective reporting ahead of next year’s General Elections. The workshop, organized by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) at a hotel in Nanyuki, aimed at equipping media practitioners and digital content creators with essential skills to handle sensitive political and social issues responsibly.
According to Kenya News Agency, NCIC officer James Wanyande highlighted the growing influence of social media as a primary platform for communication and information sharing, noting that more than 27 million Kenyans are active online. He cited user estimates for major platforms, including Facebook with about 10 million users, YouTube with 9.3 million, and Instagram with 2.5 million. Wanyande pointed to increased digital access among young people, which he said has contributed to the spread of hate speech, incitement, and radical ideologies-trends the commission is keen to address.
“Between May 2019 and May 2020, researchers documented over 85,000 instances of hateful content targeting ethnicity, religion, and political affiliations across Kenya’s digital platforms,” he said. He further revealed that ahead of the 2022 General Elections, NCIC recorded a 20 percent increase in online hate speech cases, with TikTok leading at 20 of the 48 weekly reported cases, representing a 400 percent spike compared to previous weeks.
Wanyande described the training as timely, saying it would help prevent a repeat of past trends in the run-up to the 2027 General Elections. NCIC Central Region Coordinator Francis Merinyi cautioned that political tensions often escalate into violence during election periods, noting that nearly every electoral cycle in Kenya has experienced related challenges. He urged participants to promote constructive engagement online to help curb potential conflict.
Nation Media Group Laikipia correspondent Mwangi Ndirangu emphasized personal responsibility in fostering peace. “We all have a role in advocating for peaceful 2027 elections. When blogging, do so responsibly for the sake of our country,” he urged.
