Is Social Media a Threat to Freedom of Expression in Kenya?

Accountability focuses on both funds and performance, and systems that lay emphasis on monitoring and reporting, but also maximizes the involvement of citizens so they can hold their representatives accountable.

This is what was envisaged when Kenya promulgated its Constitution in 2010 based on the central pillar of public participation.

This entails the right to information that has remained one of the most fundamental rights world over. This owes largely to the central role it plays in realization of other rights and democratic principles.

The Constitution brought a major boost to the freedom of information campaign with the recognition of the right to information as safeguarded under Article 35 of the Constitution, 2010 and in several statutory legislation key amongst them being under Section 96 of the County Government Act, 2012.

Further, the Constitution of Kenya recognizes that ratified international instruments and conventions as forming part of the law of Kenya. As such, provisions on the right to information provided for in the African Charter on Human and People’s Right and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights apply in Kenya.

It was phenomenal when the Access to Information Bill 2015 was passed by the National Assembly. If well implemented, it will lead to more transparency for a democratic nation where its citizens can access a wide range of information in order to participate in a meaningful way in matters that affect them.

However, this is not the case.  Citizens have resorted to the power of social media to hold its leaders accountable. This is because they have realized that the world of politics seems far removed from their daily realities of the challenges they face and how policies help to transform their daily lives.

For them, Social media helps to reconnect the dots in their life. It enables them to stay in touch with what’s happening in the lives of people who matter to them. It allows them to voluntarily express their views on what they like, what they dislike and what they want. It helps them create, control and contribute to a body of knowledge.

“Social media allows citizens to be the source of ideas, plans and initiatives in an easier way than ever before” says Eileen Guo of Impassion Media.

The World Economic Forum blog, “6 ways social media is changing the world”, states:

• social media is going from a “nice to have” to an essential component of any business strategy
• Social media platforms may be the banks of the future
• Social media is shaking up healthcare and public health
• Social media is changing how we govern and are governed
• Social media is helping us better respond to disasters
• Social media is helping us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, from human rights violations to climate change

For a section Kenya’s bodies, social media is being seen as a threat to national cohesion and the Interior Minister has claimed that hate messages on social media are some of the possible triggers of election-related violence in the run up to 2017 polls.

To better understand the Impact of the digital revolution and the opportunities it brings in the transformation of a society is to participate in the first ever Social Media Week Independent (SMWi) from12th to 16^th September in Nairobi.

Read: Nairobi to Host First Social Media Week in September

Nairobi will be among other cities that will be running SMWi simultaneously with – London, Rome, Sao Paulo, Miami and Mumbai.  This is the second time it is happening in Africa, after Lagos.

Be present for #SMWiNairobi this September at @KICC_kenya @StrathU https://t.co/p8rPHXy9e8 Cc @SokoAnalyst @ADELLEO pic.twitter.com/UcpBQEmKLq

— Digital Media Awards (@DMAs_Fest) August 10, 2016

The SMWi will focus on the theme – Harness the power of technology and social media to transform businesses, culture and lives – the delegates will have an opportunity to sample week-long events during the conference.

To be updated on the plenary activities download the Social Media Week Nairobi App.