Mombasa leaders warn of youth recruitment into online hate campaigns ahead of 2027 polls

Mombasa leaders warn of youth recruitment into online hate campaigns ahead of 2027 polls

CS Joho said Kenyans should be able to support different political parties without becoming enemies, arguing that political differences should not undermine relations between communities.

Mombasa leaders have raised concern over the exploitation of young people to spread inflammatory political messages on social media ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that those recruited could face the consequences of political hostility long after their sponsors have moved on.

Cabinet Secretary for Mining and Blue Economy Hassan Ali Joho warned politicians against turning political competition into hostility, urging them to sell their policies and development agendas rather than attack their opponents.

CS Joho said Kenyans should be able to support different political parties without becoming enemies, arguing that political differences should not undermine relations between communities.

He also cautioned against the use of numerical strength to intimidate minority communities, calling for equality and equity.

The concerns were raised during the launch of the Technical University of Mombasa's (TUM) Slash the Hate campaign, which seeks to address hate speech, misinformation and political incitement as the country approaches the next election.

Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir cautioned young people against accepting money from politicians to attack opponents or circulate divisive messages, saying such actions could damage their future prospects.

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He warned that politicians often reconcile after political contests, leaving the young people they mobilised to deal with the consequences of violence, arrests and damaged relationships.

The Governor challenged the youth to think beyond immediate financial gains and avoid being drawn into political confrontations that could cost them their lives and future opportunities.

Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed, meanwhile, called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to intensify its efforts against hate speech and political incitement, particularly on social media.

She expressed concern that divisive messages shared online could fuel tensions in communities and eventually trigger confrontations on the ground.

MP Zamzam challenged constitutional institutions mandated to promote national cohesion to enforce the law against individuals spreading messages that threaten peaceful coexistence.

TUM Vice-Chancellor Professor Leilah Abubakar said young people needed to be involved in conversations about political tolerance and peaceful coexistence, warning against allowing differences to become sources of division.

The campaign places particular emphasis on responsible social media use and challenges young people to resist being used to advance political interests.

With political activities expected to intensify in the run-up to the 2027 polls, the leaders called for greater vigilance against messages that could deepen divisions among communities.