The Impact Of Social Media On Electoral Process In East Africa: A Case Study Of 2017 General Election In Kenya

Abstract

With the recent technological advancement in communication and information spectrum, there has been a reciprocating growth in social, political and economic interconnectedness among individuals. Whilst social media has contributed to a different dimension of communication which is totally different from previous times, its impact on social and political stability cannot be ignored particularly during elections. In the East Africa region, social media sites were used by institutions, political contenders and voters. Given their interests, these participants engaged, mobilized and shared information through social media platforms. To some, social media created an avenue for people to enhance cohesion and political capital while in other contexts, these platform were used as a conduit to send incendiary messages. Consequently, the public on one hand was informed and ready to engage in their civic duty while on the other hand, people were more divided along ethnic and political lines. As far as indicting online hatemongers among other offenders who violated laws, the police, National Commission for Integration and Cohesion and IEBC were overwhelmed despite the concerted effort to deal with the perpetrators on social media. Political leaders and the public did not to some extent propel messages of national unity on social media. Nevertheless, there were some efforts made to create cohesion and unity by individuals, political leaders and various institutions in the country. Despite the efforts made, there are more reasons to reorganize current strategies of building cohesion in the country if stability is to be observed in future,