central to demands for accountability from a government that loves to ignore its own people , and has created space in public discourse for Kenyans that the traditional public sphere would rather not see .
None of this was in the original business plan . Social networking sites were supposed to be places where people , especially young people , connect and share banal details of their lives . How then did they become the epicenter of politics ?
So much of what diplomats and officials do on a daily basis has historically been shrouded in secrecy . Quiet conversations at conferences , or secret meetings in lush neighborhoods removed from the vagaries of local politics are the grist of what keeps international relations going , and the big displays of speeches and documents are often just a performance of things that have already been decided .
Prior to the advent of social media , traditional media retained a tremendous amount of power to frame the conversation , or mute a person altogether by refusing to cover their speeches . Foreign diplomats and politicians , especially from countries considered marginal to powerful nations , struggled to communicate directly to the
public on foreign media outlets moderated by geopolitical interests .
This is what makes social media particularly powerful . It brings into public view what has often been shrouded in secrecy - the arrogance , the hubris and the posturing that happens between people who have to pretend to be nice to each other for a living .
First , it allows any politician with something to say and access to a smartphone and a data plan to simply say it . It is an instant podium . Second , it allows that politician to curate their audience and ensure that the people around the podium are already receptive to their messaging . Governments around the world have invested obscene amounts of public money on bots and paid sycophants who parrot and cheer talking points online , to enhance the illusion of popularity . Third , it allows for engagement as it makes ordinary people feel included in a space where they have always been systematically excluded . Ultimately the power of social media in this space is that it creates an unmediated symbiosis between the communicator and audiences , which traditional media does not do .
Democracies across the world must take seriously the need to adapt government and society to the digital age . Governments , civil society , tech companies , and the public must work together to defend and protect our democratic institutions and defend the values upon which they are founded .
This undertaking requires a great deal of political will , courageous leadership and human ingenuity to resolve . New ideas for how to overcome polarization , revitalize quality journalism , and restore public trust in government must be developed and implemented .
Even though the threats and the counterthreats are happening in the digital space , the outcomes for civilians are analogue and can be deadly .
Irene Mbonge is the Group Head , Corporate Communication & Public Affairs at CPF Group . You can commune with her on this or related issues via mail at : Mbonge . Irene @ gmail . com .