ABSTRACT
Kenya has experienced a cycle of political violence following a series of controversial elections that have centred on ethnic competition. This has led to human rights abuses, deaths, destruction of property and a downward economic spiral. At the core of election violence, witnessed in 2007/8 and in 2017, is the positive and negative role of social media as used by both citizens and politicians. Political competition driven through ethnic belonging, ethno-political extremism and hate speech on social media platforms has taken centre stage. This chapter concludes that while social media is being exploited in a way that contributes to violence, social media is also contributing to peacebuilding. This chapter calls for a multi-stakeholder collaborative approach to education and sensitisation programmes on the positive use of social media for democratic consolidation.
