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The Nairobian

How Artificial Intelligence could sway the 2027 election outcomes

Opinion

By DJ Bwakali | Mar 23, 2025

**A polling station. Kenyans will vote to elect new leaders in the 2027 General Election.** [File, Standard]

During a recent town hall in Kisumu, Oyoo, a thoughtful middle-aged man, voiced strong support and concern over a prospective presidential candidate and current senator. His worry stemmed from an image that had widely circulated online, depicting this senator kissing a nominated female Senator.

Since I was moderating the town hall, I informed Oyoo that the controversial image was actually fake, a product of artificial intelligence (AI). It was troubling to realise how easily manipulated content could sway public opinion, reflecting the growing influence and potential dangers of AI in shaping society.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is computer technology designed to imitate human thinking and creativity. It learns from data, recognises patterns, and performs tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as recognising faces, creating texts, or generating realistic images and videos. The fake photograph troubling Oyoo was created using advanced AI techniques that blend or fabricate realistic images by studying countless real photographs, making it difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.

As Kenya gears up for elections in 2027, the importance of fully implementing relevant laws to prevent AI-driven misinformation cannot be overstated. History provides stark examples of how misinformation has influenced electoral outcomes. A significant case is the 2016 US presidential election, where Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. AI-driven misinformation played a critical role, as false news stories, conspiracy theories, and manipulated images rapidly spread through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Cambridge Analytica harvested and used personal data of millions of Facebook users to create tailored political messages and misinformation. This AI-driven targeted misinformation influenced voter perceptions, particularly in crucial swing states, swaying public opinion and potentially altering the outcome of the election.

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Kenya, too, faces similar risks of political manipulation through AI-generated misinformation. Although the Constitution does not explicitly address AI, it safeguards against manipulation of personal data and narratives under the Bill of Rights. The right to privacy (Article 31), human dignity (Article 28), and freedom of expression (Article 33) implicitly protect individuals against unauthorised use or manipulation of personal images and information. Additionally, the Data Protection Act (2019) and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018) provide essential legal frameworks to manage AI-generated misinformation by addressing fake news, cyber harassment, and unauthorized data manipulation.

Despite these safeguards, AI’s growing sophistication poses significant challenges. Research shows AI-generated content can spread six times faster than human-generated news, making it harder to counteract false narratives swiftly.

A 2018 MIT study highlighted how misinformation spreads faster and more extensively than truthful content, primarily due to its sensational nature. As AI technology evolves, political actors could exploit it to fabricate compelling yet false narratives, potentially swaying elections and undermining democracy.

Kenya is particularly vulnerable to this threat, given its high internet penetration rate, with approximately 85 per cent of Kenyans having internet access, predominantly through social media platforms. This extensive reach, coupled with relatively low digital literacy, makes the populace susceptible to AI-generated misinformation.

Countering AI-driven misinformation is crucial for protecting the integrity of Kenya’s electoral process. AI technologies, including chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Deep Seek, offer immense benefits, but their rapid evolution necessitates responsible oversight. Policymakers must urgently enhance legal frameworks to specifically address AI-driven misinformation. Transparency in digital advertising, real-time fact-checking, and traceability of online content can significantly deter political manipulation.

Ultimately, protecting democracy demands collective vigilance. Citizens, policymakers, technology firms, and civil society must collaborate to foster transparency, accountability, and responsible innovation. Kenya’s 2027 elections present an opportunity to set a global standard in managing AI’s powerful influence.