Civil society is tasked with ensuring that the values of democracy, transparency and accountability are upheld in a country. It has been a major thorn in the side of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
From highlighting government excesses during the Gen Z protests and condemning the abuse of human rights by security forces, to demanding accountability for the utilisation of public resources by the government, civil society has played a prominent role in the country.
With former Prime Minister Raila Odinga now in a broad-based government, civil society has filled the void left by the ODM leader, who has long been known to speak for the voiceless in society.
In keeping the Ruto-led government on its toes, the use of artificial intelligence has given civil society a major boost in undertaking its role.
The executive director of the Kenya National Civil Society Centre, Suba Churchill, told the Nation that they use AI extensively in their advocacy work.
Artificial intelligence involves using digital computers or computer-controlled robots to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.
Mr Churchill says civil society acts as the conscience of a community, advocating for values such as justice, equity and freedom, and providing a platform for the voices of those who would otherwise be ignored or suppressed.
He also pointed out that civil society bridges the gap between individuals and larger institutions. This allows citizens to play an active role in governance and societal development, not just as voters or consumers, but as participants who can influence decisions and advocate for change.
“Yes, we use AI to verify facts because civil society thrives on factual advocacy,” said Mr Churchill. “We also use artificial intelligence to edit materials, mobilise the public, and educate people on matters that affect them.”
He said that the Ruto administration has not shied away from using AI, adding that the Gen Z demonstration was successful mainly because it was coordinated through an online platform.
“Young people successfully mobilised to protest against the 2024 Finance Bill,” said Mr Churchill.
He also pointed out that young people have successfully used AI to interpret the Constitution, outlining the importance of public participation and effective governance at national and county government levels.
According to Ernest Cornel, a senior communications officer at the Kenya National Human Rights Commission, civil society has used AI to simplify its messages, enabling people to understand government policies much better and hold the government to account.
For example, he mentioned that ChatGPT was used last year to explain the financial terminology in the Finance Bill, which was subsequently rejected.
“The tool helped many people to understand the financial language used in the bill. It was therefore easier to engage people in the proposals,” he said.
He also said that AI has helped the civil society design messages that resonate with people. He gave the example of tools such as Adobe Audition and Illustrator being used by the civil society to create relatable messages.
Mr Cornel also said that it is easier to monitor government violations of human rights through AI tools. “You can enter a keyword such as 'police killings' and get all the results, including those that have happened on the same day,” he said.
Once these data and facts are available, it is easier to hold the government accountable.
In June this year, MPs called on the government to introduce regulatory policies to guide the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country.
The lawmakers expressed concern that the current lack of a proper regulatory framework in the country has had negative consequences, such as an increase in disinformation and fake news.
While acknowledging the positive benefits of artificial intelligence in increasing efficiency in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and robotics, the lawmakers said it poses a greater risk of causing conflict in the country, especially through the spread of fake news.
The MPs also argued that regulation would protect Kenyans from potential harms caused by AI, such as privacy breaches, AI-powered fake technology algorithms, algorithmic discrimination, autonomous weapons, job displacement, economic inequality, social manipulation, misinformation, financial market manipulation and privacy invasion.
In a motion by Aldai MP Marianne Kitany, the lawmakers noted that, despite its benefits in simplifying work, AI poses a significant risk when operating in an unregulated environment.
Embracing the use of AI, the MPs also cautioned that a full assessment is needed to ensure the country's security is not jeopardised by granting access to critical data.
The 2022 Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index ranked Kenya 5th in Africa and 90th globally for readiness to adopt AI.
Furthermore, the 2022 Oxford Insights Survey pegged Kenya’s readiness to adopt AI at 40.3 percent.
