Many Kenyans start their day with social media hashtags praising the country’s economic achievements. However, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. Despite glowing reports on platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook, small and large businesses are struggling due to heavy taxes, hospitals are overwhelmed, and the cost of living remains high.
The Kenyan government has orchestrated a digital communication strategy to downplay economic challenges, discredit critics, and shape public perception. This includes using influencers on platforms like X and TikTok to promote exaggerated successes and attack dissenting voices.
Social media accounts, both established and new, act as ‘digital mercenaries,’ spreading government-approved messages for financial gain. Influencers are paid varying amounts based on their following to push specific narratives, often misleading or false.
Despite claims of economic growth, the reality is starkly different, with businesses struggling, multinationals leaving, and job losses on the rise. The government’s influence extends to regulating information online, but efforts to control social media have faced opposition.
Kenya’s high internet connectivity has made social media a crucial platform for public discourse, where influencers play a significant role in shaping opinions and stifling dissent. Critics, including independent media, have faced coordinated attacks online to silence their voices.
As economic hardships persist and skepticism grows, the government’s propaganda tactics may face challenges. The digital misinformation industry in Kenya, primarily driven by social media influencers, continues to shape narratives, posing a threat to open discourse and transparency.