CS Wandayi Breaks Silence After US AI Firm Flags Online Campaign Praising Him

Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has broken his silence after a US artificial intelligence firm linked an AI-driven influence campaign to social media content promoting his work at the ministry.

Wandayi said the report did not provide evidence showing that he, the Cabinet Secretary, or the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum authorised, directed or participated in the activity.

In a post shared on social media, Wandayi said his attention had been drawn to a report about the creation of social media activity purportedly praising the ministry’s actions on electricity tariffs.

He noted that the actor behind the activity had not been identified, arguing that social media platforms host millions of anonymous and coordinated accounts promoting different narratives daily.

“What matters is evidence,” Wandayi said, adding that the report did not establish a link between the alleged activity and the ministry.

What the US AI Firm Reported

Claude identified a coordinated campaign that used artificial intelligence to create and distribute social media content connected to Kenyan political activity, identifying content that promoted Wandayi and messages relating to his work at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

Among the issues highlighted was social media activity that purportedly praised the ministry’s actions regarding electricity tariffs.

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The findings drew attention to accounts involved in distributing the content and the use of AI in producing material for the campaign.

Claude’s report did not identify the individual actor behind the activity in a way that established who had authorised or directed it, bringing Wandayi’s name into the discussion because of the content identified during the investigation.

Wandayi subsequently responded to the report, addressing claims concerning the ministry’s possible connection to the social media activity.

Wandayi Says Ministry Will Use Credible Channels

He stated his attention had been drawn to an unverified report alleging the creation of social media activity purportedly praising the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum’s actions on electricity tariffs, saying the particular actor was not identified in the report.

“There are probably millions of anonymous and coordinated accounts on social media pushing different narratives every day,” Wandayi said.

He added that what mattered was evidence, saying the report did not establish that either the Cabinet Secretary or the ministry authorised, directed or otherwise participated in the activity.

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Wandayi said the ministry remained focused on communicating its work through credible channels.

“We remain focused on communicating the Ministry’s work through credible channels and will not be distracted by speculation around anonymous online activities,” he said.

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CS for Energy and Petroleum James Opiyo Wandayi. PHOTO/X