Impact of Social Media on National Security in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is not immune to the dynamics of social media in terms of its use and abuse as a member of the international community. The government and military must deal with severe security and privacy risks raised by the use of social media as a new mode of communication, as well as new cyber-attack vectors. Criminal gangs, terrorist organizations, bad-faith non-state players, and rebellious elements, such as Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabaab, often use social media platforms to disseminate propaganda with the explicit goal of getting to, recruitment, and radicalization of their intended audience. This study aimed at examining the growth of social media in Kenya and its positive effects on security; examining the negative effects of social media on national security and investigating the efforts that the government of Kenya has put in place to deal with threats caused by social media. The study used two theories: the social responsibility theory and the Technological Determinism Theory. The study aimed at answering the following hypothesis: Social media which has well been utilized and can be used to prevent threats to national security and bring peace and growth to a nation and social media if not well controlled it can affect the security of the state negatively. This study was based on a search of publications and papers on the dangers posed by social media in Kenya on the internet. The threats that social media pose to Kenya's national security were examined using a combination of limited literature and documentary evidence. A search for "social media and national security in Kenya," "social media risks in Kenya," and "social media regulation in Kenya" were conducted using Google Chrome. To examine qualitative data, thematic or content analysis was used. The contents of the data were summarized, and this information was utilized to begin the analysis. In order to make conclusions, the similarities and discrepancies in secondary data will be evaluated. According to the findings, over the years the dominance of social media in Kenya has continued to grow and its presence can no longer be ignored. As observed, Social media can be viewed as a double-edged sword not only in Kenya but the entire globe. Positively: Users may quickly connect with one another through social media platforms, which allow them to share various types of material such as videos, photographs, graphics, messages, and sounds, among other things. Social media also aids in the formation and strengthening of numerous networks, including professional, social, cultural, religious, family and political ones, as well as the development and definition of social identities. Terrorist attacks, hacking, sensitive data leaks, cyber bullying, cyber fraud and money laundering, cattle raiding, illegal hunting, tribal confrontations, information warfare, and hate speech are all negative examples. As a result, the research suggests that security apparatus establish automated methods for collecting and evaluating social media that are adapted to certain work contexts. The government of Kenya needs to ensure that the policies that are already in place concerning social media and internet security are fully enforced in order to ensure the perpetrators are fully prosecuted and brought to justice.