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Promoting Human Rights and Freedoms and Inclusive Data Culture for Internet Governance in Kenya

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FECoMo
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On 22 June 2022, Nairobi hosted the 16th edition of the Kenya Internet Governance Forum under the Themed: ‘The internet we want – empowering all Kenyan people.’ UNESCO partnered with Kenya Information Communication and Technology Action Network Trust (KICTANET) as main event partner. The event provided a platform for knowledge sharing and expert deliberations on issues around the field of internet governance.

During the forum, UNESCO participated in an expert panel session titled: Human rights and freedoms – Harmful content in the digital arena. This session brought together panelists drawn from KICTANET, The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and Code 4 Africa and UNESCO.  

Ms. Angela Minayo, Program Officer from Kenya ICT Network indicated that women were among the most affected groups by online harassment affecting their participation in discussions. The issue on misinformation, hate speech and disinformation was highlighted as a major problem affecting women in online spaces.  

John Okande, Programme Officer at UNESCO emphasized on the importance of mainstreaming human rights principles on digital platforms and promotion of media and information literacy competencies. He further stated that the increased incidences of cyber bullying, proliferation of hate speech, and increase of data privacy issues on platforms, efforts should be given to remedy these issues for an ensured healthy digital ecosystem.

Allan Cheboi, Senior Manager for Investigations at Code 4 Africa discussed the role of information disorder and foreign interference in exacerbating for the spread of online hate speech, cyber bullying and other human rights violations.

Ms. Rose Museru, Deputy Data Protection Commissioner, Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, while delivering a keynote address called for a multi-stakeholders’ approach to internet policy development that upholds human rights, transparency, equity and privacy.

Dr. Ololade Shyllon, Head of Privacy Policy, Africa, Middle East and Turkey, Meta stressed the importance of ensuring that data laws are developed before is collected from platforms and not vice versa. Highlighting that there is a growing tendency of making laws to suit data.

David Omwoyo, Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council of Kenya advocated for the development of a common internet governance principles and a shift towards participatory rights that will encourages healthy engagement and participation of online.   

Key challenges identified during the discussions and expert panels included; an unskilled labour force in the data protection space, a lack of a data governance framework, and lack of data literacy among the citizens in the country.

The Kenya Internet Governance forum (IGF) brought together 250 stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, tech community, and academia to discuss issues in the field of internet governance. Topics included human rights and freedoms, harmful content online, digital divides and inclusion, AI and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, cybercrime and online safety, and data governance and trust.

The UNESCO EU-funded “Social Media 4 Peace” project seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media. The project is also being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, and Colombia.

Pwani Teknowgalz, with UNESCO Support, Empowers Young Girls in Peacebuilding Through Mobile Innovation

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FECoMo
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On 25 to 26 May 2022, UNESCO in partnership with Pwani Tecknowgalz organized a hybrid consultative workshop themed: MobiPeace Hackathon for the development of mobile solutions on peace building initiatives in Kenya. This intervention attracted participation of 50 young girls drawn from Lamu, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kilifi, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia and Marsabit counties in Kenya.

At the opening of the consultative workshop, Ms Misako Ito, Regional Advisor for Communication and Information in Africa at UNESCO stated that:

“We are glad that this initiative is tailored to engage young girls to develop mobile solutions for peace. From this process we expect three mobile applications to be developed in Swahili, Sheng and English languages to help create awareness of positive peace narratives and tackle online hate speech and disinformation ahead of the upcoming elections in Kenya”.

Francesco CARBONI, Regional Crisis Response Planning Officer at the Delegation of European Union in Kenya highlighted the critical role of leveraging technology and media as tools that can potentially foster peace and stability. He said:

“I wish to thank UNESCO for organizing and supporting the Mobile Peace hackathon by girls in Kenya to develop mobile applications for peace in Kenya. I applaud the young girls for choosing to participate in this workshop as this would be beneficial towards ensuring peace throughout the 2022 electioneering period and beyond in Kenya.”

He further highlighted ‘Kijana Jiihusishe’, a youth-led EU-supported peace-building initiative that seeks to strengthen collaborative youth networks towards peaceful 2022 elections in Kenya.

Rana Taha, Peace Development Advisor at United Nations Resident Coordinator (UNRC) applauded UNESCO and EU for supporting the MobiPeace Hackathon and for their commitments towards ensuring peaceful co-existence in Kenya. She encouraged the girls stating that they should ensure that the developed mobile application solutions seek to make a difference in Kenya. She said:

“… specifically, to the girls in this meeting, your ability to engage, to make a difference, to be a historical force of change and to take really the time to reflect on your role as active peacebuilders […] in this day and age, we are still in the process of really defining what peacebuilding through social media looks like, so you are the pioneers, you are the ones that will paint the path and pave the paths for generations to come on what that means and how it’s done”.

In the workshop, Ms. Olive Metet, Assistant Director Communication and Knowledge Management, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), highlighted the background of NCIC in establishing a peaceful Kenyan society. She further encouraged young ladies to be at the forefront of ensuring peaceful co-existence among Kenyans.

 “I encourage the young ladies to rise to the occasion and become our social media warriors in terms of peace messaging”.

Andrew Masila, Innovation Leader at Safaricom PLC stated that digital skills should be at the center of any innovation and digital transformation efforts. He encouraged the girls to continue building a digital ecosystem that will transform society and make it peaceful. Furthermore, Hugue Ngandeu Ngatta, Programme Specialist for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO encouraged the girls to design mobile applications that offer tangible and concrete answers to solving some of the emerging issues and trends related to peacebuilding, particularly tackling hate speech and disinformation.

At the workshop, participants were taken through reflections on the current state of peacebuilding in Kenya by technology experts and peacebuilders in Kenya. Possibilities for cooperation on peace initiatives, and setting up safety and ethics principles around new technologies such as the Metaverse were also explored. In addition, the significance of gamification of peace was also discussed.

Presentations were also shared on the importance of freedom of expression principles and safety in the digital environment and on ‘Una Hakika’ platform that helps tackle misinformation and disinformation by Catherine Muya, Advocate and Program Officer at Article 19 EA and John Green Otunga, Programme Manager at The Sentinel Project respectively. John further encouraged the girls to borrow some inspiration and ideas from Una Hakika platform to inform their co-creation process of mobile solutions for peace.

Other presentations also included; Approaches for ensured safety across METAs platforms and on perspectives and mechanisms for safety and responsibility in Digital Platforms by Suzan Elsayed, Safety Policy Manager (Africa, Middle East, and Turkey) at META and David Muya, Country Director from iEARN Kenya (META affiliate). The young girls were encouraged to apply for the ‘Digital Ambassadors’ programme post the hackathon as young digital peacebuilders at iEARN Kenya.

The workshop attracted participation of organizations such as Search for Common Ground, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Universities and Colleges Students’ Peace Association of Kenya (UCSPAK) Build Up, The Sentinel Project Safaricom PLC, European Centre for Electoral Support, UNDP Accelerator Lab.

About the Social Media 4 Peace Project

UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace project funded by the European Union seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media.

Search for Common Ground Partners with UNESCO to Build Civil Society Capacities in Digital Peacebuilding

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FECoMo
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While digital platforms have provided us with immense opportunities, they have also become instrumental platforms for spreading harmful narratives and disinformation with a significant impact on conflict dynamics and peace.

It is in this regard, that UNESCO partnered with Search for Common Ground (SCG) as part of the Social Media 4 Peace project funded by the European Union to strengthen capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) through a virtual workshop on promotion of peacebuilding narratives through digital technologies from 16 to 19 May 2022 in Kenya. This training aimed at equipping representatives of CSOs with requisite competencies and skills on how to leverage technology for peacebuilding, conflict mapping, development and promotion of online peace-building narratives for national cohesion and peaceful co-existence in Kenya. The training workshop attracted the participation of 50 participants drawn from 40 peace-building organizations from across 47 counties in Kenya.

At the opening of the workshop, Ms Misako Ito, Regional Advisor for Communication and Information for Africa at UNESCO stated:

“As we know, social media, largely through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram is increasingly a new space for polarization and divisions. This is why UNESCO is implementing the Social Media 4 Peace project to strengthen the resilience of people to potentially harmful content spread online.”

Mr. Charles Ayako, the Coast Regional Director for ICTs, innovation and Youth Affairs, stated that the government welcomes an initiative that aims to mobilize citizens to build online resilience to hate narratives and disinformation, particularly in the build up to the general elections scheduled for August 2022 in Kenya. He further said:

“The country is currently in an election season with all forms of the media pre-occupied with reporting on perceived outcome issues in elections. The government welcomes such programs that provide opportunities for organizations to discuss their insights on the role of social media in catalyzing and enabling peace among citizens during and after elections.”

He further called upon CSOs to support youth lead initiatives and organizations with requisite skills and competencies to be aware and able to identify, and debunk online harmful narratives and disinformation that is often rampant during election periods.

Also speaking during the launch Ms Judy Kimamo, Swahili Coast Director at Search for Common Ground (SCG) indicated that while the surge of online social media activity has expanded spaces for freedom of expression and information, this has also come with an increased risk that needs to be mitigated. She said:

“The rapid increase of hate speech and mis/disinformation online now risks transforming digital platforms into avenues which amplify social division and incite violence as we head to the next general elections. Therefore this initiative aims at giving us the skills and opportunity to strengthen our communities’ resilience and empower them to use the online space as a tool to promote peace.”

During the workshop, participants were taken through topics such as; understanding social media platforms for peacebuilding; digital advocacy and peacebuilding; digital storytelling for peacebuilding; Countering Hate Speech and Building Resilience in Digital Spaces; Exploring production tools and peacebuilding narratives exercise;

The civil society organizations (CSOs) that participated in the workshop include; Human Rights Development Agenda; Amani Centre; Taita Taveta Human Rights Watch; Ijara Women For Peace; Agency For Peace Initiatives and Inclusive Development; Habiba International Women and Youth Affairs; Northern Pastoralist Youth Development Organization; Catholic and Justice Department; Kirinyaga Women For Peace; Other include: Justice Advocacy and Empowerment Centre; Centre For Community Dialogue Development; United Disabled Persons of Laikipia (UDPL); Centre For Transformational Leadership; Kericho Advocacy Forum for Pwds; Center for Enhancing Democracy and Good Governance; Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network; Sikom Peace Network; Women Volunteers For Peace (WOVOP); Transmara Human Rights Defenders; Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative; and Amani Kibra among others.

About the Social Media 4 Peace Project

UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace project is funded by the European Union and seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech inciting violence while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media.

This project is aligned with UNESCO’s overall strategy to combat disinformation by fostering the information as a public good and strengthening the transparency of the internet ecosystem. The project will contribute to the achievement of SDG 16, to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies and to the UN Plan of Action on Hate Speech launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierrez to combat the online disturbing groundswell of xenophobia, racism, and intolerance. 

Empowering Youths to Combat Online Hate and Misinformation Ahead of Kenya’s 2022 Elections

By
FECoMo
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0

In today’s electoral contexts, social media platforms serve as powerful tools for fostering communication between candidates and voters. However, these platforms are increasingly exploited to distort public perceptions and undermine informed decision-making. Ahead of Kenya’s August 2022 general elections, Fecomo, in partnership with the Africa Centre for People Institutions and Society (Acepis), META (Facebook), Search for Common Ground, The Sentinel Project, and the European Union in Kenya, mobilized youth across the country to participate in training sessions aimed at addressing online hate speech and misinformation. This initiative brought together 163 participants in the first cohort, 289 in the second, and 795 in the third, drawn from all 47 counties in Kenya.

At the opening of one of the workshops, Misako Ito, Regional Advisor for Communication and Information, highlighted the significance of responsible online behavior, noting, “We often engage with social media posts instinctively, without verifying their accuracy. A single click can have far-reaching consequences both online and offline. It’s critical for users to think critically and click wisely.”

Kenya has experienced the devastating consequences of hate speech and disinformation in electoral periods, notably during the 2007 general elections, which were marred by violence. The rapid growth of social media and digital communication during the COVID-19 pandemic has made it increasingly difficult to counter the spread of harmful content. Recognizing this challenge, Fecomo joined forces with Acepis and other stakeholders to implement initiatives that enhance youth resilience to online hate and misinformation while promoting peace and security.

Speaking at the training sessions, Katrine Hagemann, Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU in Kenya, stressed the gravity of the issue:
“Online hate and disinformation can have devastating effects, exacerbating political intolerance and fueling conflict. The proliferation of such harmful content on social media calls for urgent measures to promote fact-based, balanced information and mitigate its impact on offline violence.”

Sarah Muyonga, Public Policy Manager at Meta for East and Horn of Africa, emphasized the dual role of social media in either fostering peace or inciting division:
“Social media has the potential to be a powerful tool for peacebuilding, but it can equally be a platform for conflict. Meta is committed to educating young people on digital safety, privacy tools, and responsible engagement to prevent online disputes from escalating into real-world harm.”

Judy Kimamo, Director of Search for Common Ground, echoed these sentiments, stating:
“Social media platforms have become the go-to spaces for young people to interact, share, and consume information. As elections approach, it is essential to equip young people and influencers with the tools to discern and combat misinformation, ultimately contributing to peace and cohesion in our communities.”

John Green Otunga, East African Programmes Manager at The Sentinel Project, highlighted the urgent need for proactive efforts:
“Misinformation is not a new phenomenon, but the sheer volume of information today makes it challenging to filter the real from the fake. Vulnerable populations must be protected from consuming and spreading unverified content before it’s too late.”

Between February and March 2022, Acepis trained over 500 young people on media and information literacy (MIL) across Kenya. These sessions focused on helping participants become more critical consumers and responsible creators of online content. The training emphasized the importance of using social media for peacebuilding, with modules adapted from UNESCO and partner resources, such as the “Think Critically, Click Wisely” curriculum.

Rachel Olpengs, Programmes Manager at Acepis, summarized the program’s goals:
“What happens online directly impacts real-world dynamics. As we head into the election period, it is vital to ensure that social media is leveraged positively. These trainings empower young people to become responsible digital citizens, promoting peace and unity across their communities.”

About the Social Media for Peace Project

The Social Media for Peace project is premised on the realization that while digitalization of societies presents opportunities for information flow, digital communication tools have also become instrumental platforms for spreading harmful content with a significant impact on conflict dynamics and peace. Through the project, UNESCO seeks to enhance understanding of the root causes, scale and impact of potentially harmful content and of the effectiveness of the tools to address it in the 3 pilot countries – Kenya, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Indonesia. The project is funded by the European Union and will contribute to the achievement of SDG 16, to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies and to the UN Plan of Action on Hate Speech launched by UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez to combat the online disturbing groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance.

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The development of this website was supported through the UNESCO project "Social Media 4 Peace" funded by the EU Instrument Contributing to Peace and Stability. The ideas and opinions in this website are those of the authors and do not reflect those of UNESCO and the European Union.

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