Kenya's digital defences are not ready for the war on our minds

There is a story from a small village in Kiambu County that has stayed on my mind. A rumour spread on WhatsApp that a nearby dam had cracked and would burst within hours.Within 30 minutes, nearly 700 people evacuated their homes, carrying children, mattresses and whatever else they could grab. Only later did it become clear that the message originated outside Kenya, created by someone who has never set foot in that village and has never met the people whose lives he disrupted. One false message shook an entire community.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUnlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans TodayUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
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Within 30 minutes, nearly 700 people evacuated their homes, carrying children, mattresses and whatever else they could grab. Only later did it become clear that the message originated outside Kenya, created by someone who has never set foot in that village and has never met the people whose lives he disrupted. One false message shook an entire community.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUnlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans TodayUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

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