Busia: A group of residents from Busia County have been sensitised to digital risks and peaceful coexistence as a way of promoting unity and accountability of shared information. The sensitisation, organised by Siasa Place under the Trust Lab programme, brought together 70 individuals comprising the youth, women, and people living with disabilities at Busia Polytechnic.
According to Kenya News Agency, Monicah Atieno from Siasa Place explained that the initiative aims to help the community understand the risks of engaging in hate speech and online threats that come with sharing unverified information. “We have found that the most prevalent threats in Busia County are hate speech and scams, and as we approach the next election, we are educating the community to be aware and avoid engaging in tribal politics, cyberbullying, and digital scams,” she said.
Atieno expressed the need for continued public sensitisation to enhance knowledge in electing capable leaders. “The dangers that affect us if we don’t do sensitisation are that many people make decisions during elections based on the tribe and not the ability of the leader. This has led to many places remaining in a bad state after electing a representative without their needs at heart,” she added. She highlighted the importance of fostering peaceful coexistence among the diverse communities in Busia County to ensure peace before and after elections.
Bashir Were, a member of the Busia County Empowerment Accountability Champion Centre CBO, identified the spread of false information as a significant issue in the county. He urged the youth to ensure the information they share is verified, cautioning that “the spread of propaganda, misinformation, and fake news will create more harm when the election comes. The existing peace will be disrupted, and that’s why this initiative plays a big role in promoting peaceful coexistence in our county.”
Were also highlighted their efforts in online sensitisation about the dangers of engaging in hate speech and misinformation. “The price for such actions is expensive but avoidable if we stick to the right ways. Let’s not accept being used to drive wrong agendas by someone in which we might suffer at the tail end.”
Rose Wandaki from Friendly Innovative Development Solutions pointed out that digital threats have become a significant source of depression, underscoring the need for more sensitisation workshops. “Many people have committed suicide because of online threats. It has also caused depression and stress, that’s why we need to speak out about these issues. As youth, we should avoid the digital threat so that we can make the world a safe place for everyone.”
Wandaki suggested that sensitisation of digital threats should extend to communities and churches to reach a larger audience. She added that this approach could assist in electing good leaders and creating a safe space for everyone in the community.
