KICTANet report highlights misinformation risks in Kenya’s alternative media

A new report by the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) examines the growing role of alternative media in Kenya’s political information landscape and the risks this could create ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Titled Many Microphones, Little Accountability, the report draws on three months of monitoring of Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and X, as well as a nationwide survey and interviews with policymakers, journalists and content creators. It was presented during a KICTANet webinar involving researchers, media professionals and academics.

The research found that alternative media has become a significant source of political information. Eighty per cent of survey respondents said they receive political information through alternative media, while 72% said they consume such content every week. TikTok was identified as the leading platform in this category.

At the same time, the findings point to concerns about how political information is produced and verified. Sixty-eight per cent of respondents said misinformation is a problem on social media, while 63% said they had shared false information without checking it first. The research also found that 57% did not trust mainstream media to cover politics without bias.

How political narratives spread

The report describes a cycle in which content is created or altered, published online, amplified through platforms and networks, and eventually reaches audiences who may act on it or incorporate it into their political views.

According to the report, influencers, podcast hosts, county-focused pages, anonymous accounts and coordinated networks can all contribute to this process. The narratives identified in the research included ethnic and tribal polarisation, attacks on candidates, claims about compromised electoral institutions, fabricated scandals and misleading statements about public policy.

The report also identifies differences between platforms. On Facebook, altered newspaper branding and content designed to resemble established news outlets can make fabricated material appear credible. TikTok can accelerate emotionally charged and decontextualised content, while longer discussions on YouTube and podcasts can give unverified claims an appearance of authority.

Calls for shared responsibility

Participants in the webinar argued that addressing these challenges will require action from several parts of the information ecosystem.

Representatives of the Association of Professional Broadcasters and the Media Council of Kenya highlighted the role of news organisations, regulators, platforms and fact-checking teams. They also pointed to the need for stronger editorial oversight and greater resources for verification as online content becomes faster and more difficult to monitor.

The Media Council of Kenya also noted that people may turn to social media first for news but still use mainstream media to verify information. The Council called for greater responsibility from platform operators, including the labelling of AI-generated content.

KICTANet’s report argues that responsibility for reducing misinformation cannot rest with a single group. It identifies regulators, technology platforms, fact-checkers, political actors, media organisations and citizens as stakeholders in addressing the gap between the growing influence of alternative media and the accountability mechanisms surrounding it.

The report is available as Many Microphones, Little Accountability and is intended to inform discussions and initiatives ahead of Kenya’s 2027 election.