INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE 2017 ELECTION IN KENYA

There is no doubt that for the first time in Kenya social media is going to be used so extensively during elections. Given its popularity, social media could be used as an influential channel for opinion leading, including agenda-setting and public opinion formation. The technology revolution which we call it as Internet has changed the world by connecting people across the globe.

Today's youth in Kenya are increasingly using a numbers of social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Blog and LinkedIn as platforms for communicating with friends, family and work colleagues. Social Media’s quick development shows its influence on society and is a crucial part of the advancement of information and communication technologies.

The use of social media is significantly complex. Even though the use of social media has several challenges such as security, privacy, accuracy at the same time it provides the opportunities for sharing, collaboration, and engagement of users which is provided by the medium of social media. It is very crucial to understanding how and why these tools can be used in politics.

Social Media has rapidly grown in importance as a platform for political activities in its different forms. Social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube provide new ways to encourage citizen get involved in political life, where elections and electoral campaigns have a central role.  According to observers, social media would play a vital role in deciding which party wins the most seats in the upcoming 2017 elections in Kenya the reason for this being the youth.

This population of mostly the youth is either studying in college or working in various companies and other sectors or is either an  entrepreneur. Their busy schedule has created a virtual distance between television and radio especially in case of acquiring or sharing information .The youth is tech savvy and love being connected with updated trends and topics which is possible by using laptops, desktops or the most favorite network connected mobiles.

Even though politicians for their campaign still use posters, cut-outs, fliers, graffiti and personal rally’s to reach and win over voters but with the social media changing the picture of urban Kenya, political parties are becoming tech savvy and realizing that social media is the only way to reach out to the this young youth. Almost all other aspirants for Governor, Senator, Member of Parliament, Member of County Assembly seats have also joined the social media craze while the internet boom has drastically changed the media scene as they use the social media to air out the political campaigns on who said what and where they say it. They engage the voters by integrating their news practices and their journalists follow events to deliver breaking news.

As the political heat rises ahead of the 2017 general, elections, the social media impact is going to be indisputable. Gone is the generation that rallied behind a politician just because they belonged to a particular tribe. Many of the politicians leaders whom we know today rose to power not because of their remarkable leadership qualities but through the enormous number of voters already have their fates decided by their voters on social media.

 Many voters haven’t been home since the last general elections but know various finished and unfinished developments projects put up by the MCAS, how the scandals of the governor and senator has derailed developments,all courtesy of the social media.

It’s not a doubt that the social media holds a key of the outcome of the 2017 general elections and that the general election will be won or lost on the social media platform.

yego jacinta.