The INFORM Initiative

The INFORM Initiative : Correcting and Countering Disinformation, Misinformation, and Malinformation in Kenya

 In today’s hyper-connected world, the integrity of data and information has become a frontline issue for democratic governance, public trust, and national security. Kenya, with its dynamic political landscape, the youth bulge, and expanding digital ecosystem, faces an unprecedented surge in the spread of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation (collectively referred to as DMM). These forms of information disorder are potent tools of manipulation that erode social cohesion, incite violence, delegitimize institutions, and disrupt economic, governance and political processes.

The INFORM Initiative is a three-year undertaking of the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies, designed to manage and respond to the evolving threats of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation (DMM) across Kenya’s social, political, economic, diplomatic, and security spheres. Through this initiative, the HORN will roll out targeted activities aimed at fact-checking, correcting disinformation, misinformation and malinformation, strengthening public awareness, building institutional capacity, and informing effective, evidence-based policy responses that safeguard the country’s information environment.

In the digital age, the speed and scale at which information spreads have significantly transformed how societies communicate, make decisions and engage with political and civic life. However, this transformation has also come with new, deeply troubling vulnerabilities. The proliferation of disinformation (deliberate falsehoods), misinformation (unintended inaccuracies), and malinformation (truths used in misleading or harmful contexts), collectively known as DMM poses a serious and growing threat to Kenya’s national security, democratic governance, and social cohesion.

Kenya’s vibrant digital ecosystem and rising internet and smartphone penetration have provided unprecedented access to information. Social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) have enabled more inclusive public discourse and political participation. However, these platforms are increasingly exploited to manipulate narratives, deepen societal divides, and disseminate false or misleading content.

Because election periods in Kenya have been particularly vulnerable to orchestrated disinformation campaigns, as witnessed during the 2017 and 2022 general elections, there is a need to act now to prevent an all-out anarchy caused by disinformation, misinformation and malinformation.

Prompt and sustained actions will reduce the efficacy of false claims, hate speech, and manipulated content that are now widely circulated to influence voter behavior and incite ethnic tension. For example, the popular “hustlers vs. dynasties” narrative, which emerged during the 2022 elections, marking a shift in political rhetoric from ethnic-based divisions to class-based antagonism, is, in 2025, this transforming and evolving into intergenerational tensions, fueling online confrontations and offline conflict.

The challenge is compounded by the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to generate deepfakes and other synthetic media. These tools make it difficult for the public to distinguish between fact and fiction, thereby accelerating the spread and impact of DMM. In a context already marked by historical grievances, tribal politics, and fragile institutional trust, the amplification of DMM by AI-driven technologies further destabilizes public discourse and threatens peace.

Research by organizations such as the Mozilla Foundation and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) confirms that Kenya has become a key target for political disinformation operations due to its geopolitical importance, tech-savvy population, and strategic role in East Africa. At the same time, local mechanisms to detect, respond to, and mitigate the effects of DMM remain underdeveloped.

Unchecked, DMM threatens to erode trust in democratic institutions, fuel electoral violence, and destabilize economic progress. It undermines truth as a cornerstone of governance and fosters an environment where misinformation can be weaponized to intimidate, polarize, or disenfranchise. This has clear implications not only for individual freedoms and human rights but for the broader architecture of peace and national security.

The INFORM Initiative by the HORN International Institute for Strategic Studies is therefore both timely and urgent. It is grounded in the recognition that safeguarding Kenya’s information environment is critical to national resilience. Through research, advocacy, strategic communication, and multi-sectoral collaboration, the DISMISS Initiative aims to equip stakeholders with the tools and knowledge to detect, counter, and prevent the harmful effects of disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation.

By fostering public awareness, enhancing institutional capacity, and catalyzing policy reform, the project seeks to promote a more informed, tolerant, and cohesive society one where information empowers rather than divides. In doing so, the DISMISS Initiative contributes not only to Kenya’s democratic consolidation but also to its long-term peace and stability in an increasingly complex digital era.

As part of this multi-pronged initiative, the HORN will launch a series of specialized programs and platforms tailored to address the various dimensions of information disorder. The first of these is the Horn Security Debates—a high-level, bimonthly forum that will bring together security experts, policymakers, and thought leaders to examine how disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation influence security dynamics across the Horn of Africa. This dialogue series will offer timely, evidence-based insights that directly inform the broader goals of The INFORM Initiative.