NAIROBI,Kenya,Oct, 19 – Technology, internet and social media have radically changed the world of interaction. It has considerably affected all sectors of human ventures. Kenya is one of the most technology-advanced countries in Africa, with 91% penetration of mobile subscriptions compared to Africa’s 80%.
The growth in mobile internet use in Kenya correlates with a rise in smartphone usage, driven by the emergence of cheaper smartphones and a relatively youthful population actively looking for information and extensively communicating online.
According to Digital2021 Kenya report, “with the country’s population of close to 54.38 million, there were 21.75 million internet users; 11.00 million being social media users by January 2021. The report further indicates 59.24 million mobile connections with an increase of 5.9million (+11%) between January 2020 and January 2021. The number of mobile connections in Kenya by January 2021 was equivalent to 108.9% of the total population”
The statistics are on a fast lane spiral. Globally, Kenya has the highest share of internet usage from mobile phones as compared to desktops. Internet access through the mobile phone in the country recently hit 83%, overtaking Nigeria. Jumia Kenya, an online shop in Kenya, reported 70% of their traffic coming from mobile phones while 50% of payments were done through mobile phones.
By and large the evolution of ICT has yielded positive societal change with an immense value addition swell; though with extraordinary challenges that are now becoming a threat world-over. Cyber- related crimes such as phishing, cyber extortion, cryptojacking, money laundering and cyber espionage are taking over courtesy of the internet.
Of concern is the impact of social media platforms to its citizens ; Kenyan users spend close to 3-4 hours a day on social media, with the most used platforms identified as Whatsapp (74%), Facebook (70%) ,Twitter (50%), based on users’ own claimed activities. Other Apps frequently used include; instagram, linkedIn, myspace, skype, podcasts, weblogs, youtube, google and tik tok.
In essence social media services are geared towards boosting connections, interactions and building communities by enabling users to create, co-operate, modify, share and engage with each other with ease, on-time and cost effectively.
The world has been digitized into a ‘village- hub’ with information dissemination happening almost instantly. Embracing ICT is now the new norm with the population across board from the youths to the elderly aspiring to be computer-savvy. Majority of households have smartphones, laptops, tablets and internet connections.
Unlike the past elections; the current domain has radically transposed, coming at a time when the country is combating the covid-19 pandemic; whose end times remain unknown. We have been in situations where public and social gatherings have been halted, learning institutions closed and lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Crucial government projects and political activities have had to be posed or executed under constraints. Virtual meetings via ; Zoom; Google Meet; Microsoft Teams; GoToMeeting; Cisco WebEx; TeamViewer; Skype; Join.me; among others have been adopted.
Political campaigns have largely shifted base to social media platforms, with a majority of central players going online via you-tube, facebook, whatsapp and twitter or employing the services of bloggers and ICT experts to boost their visibility.
The demand for social media content creators and influencers is on increase with the political class rebranding and capitalizing on the vote-rich social media platforms to woo voters. Information sharing has been made easy, with players reaching out to the electorates instantly via live social media interactions, infomercials and imagery shared as events occur and happen at the points of actions. The platforms are heavily being used to campaign as it is being witnessed currently via online opinion polling, fire-fighting among opponents and sale of individual manifestos.
With the trend (social media use) bound to increase as we approach next year’s general election; one fact remains;” Social media, internet and influencers will significantly tilt the outcome of the polls”
As we embrace technology, it remains prudent to positively utilize the platforms and shun online fake-news and pictorial broadcast that is unverified but out to ignite incitement and disharmony. Let us use these platforms to unify the country by detesting the circulation of propaganda and hate- speeches that are likely to invoke instant violence in the country.
Our youthful generation should be cautious of massive online fake job- adverts, lotteries, scholarships, porn-site recruitment, cultism-luring, phishing, radicalization and terrorism recruitment and dating.
Many people have fallen prey to these online offers, losing huge amounts of cash; personal data; joining wrong groups and forums, engaging in dating(s) that is now resulting in the increased strange love-triangles, suicides, homicides and femicides.
Dennis Wendo,Founder – Integrated Development Network.
Email: dambehi@gmail.com
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