Kenya’s diplomatic circles were recently rocked when Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei shared a deepfake video falsely attributed to CNN.

This AI-generated content, which praised Kenya’s peacekeeping efforts in Sudan, exemplifies a growing crisis where deepfake technology spreads disinformation, manipulates public perception, and targets women in positions of power.

Social media algorithms amplify sensational content, allowing misinformation to outpace facts.

Limited digital literacy combined with increasingly sophisticated AI-generated media makes reality harder to distinguish.

Though initially developed for entertainment, deepfake technology has been weaponised for political manipulation, propaganda, and gender-based attacks.

Deepfakes – AI-generated videos, images, and audio clips – use advanced machine learning techniques like Generative Adversarial Networks to create convincing fake content.

AI enhances lighting, speech synchronisation, and facial expressions, making detection increasingly difficult.

Traditional analysis methods are becoming obsolete, requiring more sophisticated countermeasures.

In Kenya, deepfakes have become tools for digital gender-based violence. Female politicians, journalists, and activists face AI-generated explicit content designed to discredit them.

These manipulated media often spread virally before debunking, causing emotional distress, social stigma, and career damage. Many women self-censor or withdraw from public roles, undermining democratic participation.

This harassment threatens gender equity in governance by silencing voices crucial for national development.

Democracy cannot thrive when half the population faces intimidation that discourages leadership roles.

Beyond personal attacks, deepfakes threaten Kenya’s national credibility.

The fake CNN video shared by a high-ranking official demonstrates how AI-generated misinformation can infiltrate government.

If unchecked, this technology could manipulate elections, sway policy decisions, and influence public perception on critical issues.

Globally, deepfakes have already been deployed for political deception during elections in countries like the US and India, illustrating serious consequences for democratic processes.

Kenya’s reputation as a regional leader in peacekeeping and diplomacy is at risk.

If officials cannot distinguish between real and fake content, the country’s ability to engage credibly in global affairs becomes compromised.

Deepfake creation, once requiring technical expertise, is now widely accessible through AI-powered applications.

This democratisation accelerates misinformation, necessitating urgent intervention. Kenya’s digital policies lack specific provisions addressing deepfake threats.

Updating legislation is essential to prevent misuse in political, social, and personal attacks.

To combat this crisis, Kenya must strengthen AI-powered detection tools through investment from social media platforms, media organisations, and government.

The country needs to update legal frameworks to criminalise deepfake abuse with strict penalties and equip law enforcement with digital forensic capabilities.

Promoting media literacy through public education and integrating critical assessment skills into school curricula is essential.

Kenya should also provide support systems for women targeted by deepfake abuse, including legal assistance, counselling, and career rehabilitation.

The rise of deepfakes presents an unprecedented challenge to truth and trust in Kenya’s digital landscape. P

roactive measures – including robust legislation, advanced technology, and digital literacy – can curb AI-generated disinformation.

This isn’t just about protecting individual reputations but safeguarding democracy itself.

— The writer is a Machine Learning Researcher, technology policy analyst and a Columnist