Uwiano Platform for Peace

Uwiano Platform for Peace included online tools and features for tracking, reporting, and retrieving evidence of hate speech, incitement, and other forms of violence instigation in text, images, voice, and video. People were able to send alerts of possible or occurring referendum-related violence through a toll-free SMS Short Code (6397) or by email. When incoming messages were received at the office of the National Steering Committee (NSC) on Peace Building and Conflict Management or PeaceNet, they were placed into one of six categories: informative, threat, positive message, hate speech, coded message, or incitement to violence. In order to verify claims of hate speech or violence or anything that might require action by the authorities, team members called the sender of the message as well as other officials in the area.

To help in data collection, a pool of monitors were spread across the country, with a particularly focus on identified hotspots. However, to enable as many Kenyans as possible to report incidents of violence or tension build-up, a media campaign with messages on national cohesion and how to report incidents and best practices was rolled out in the print and electronic media. The project also produced T-shirts and materials with the slogan ‘Chagua Kenya, Chagua Amani’ and the SMS code for reporting.

Implementing partners also convened weekly meetings and media briefing sessions where emerging trends were shared with the public. The weekly meetings aimed to consolidate reports, review the project progress and highlight best practices. The objective of the media briefing sessions was to celebrate national cohesion and integration milestones while highlighting recorded challenges, the actions being taken to correct any transgressions, and the corrective actions already taken. In cases where instigators of violence were summoned to record statements with the police on account of hate speech, incitement, and other forms of violence instigation, it was done publicly to send a national message that there is commitment to bring the culture of impunity, hatred, and negative ethnicity as a means of advancing political persuasions to an end.

Conflict, Democracy and Governance, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)