Ruto’s Govt Hit With 5 Demands Over AI Manipulation After Wandayi Exposé

Siasa Place has called for stronger safeguards against AI-driven political manipulation, urging the government, political parties, technology platforms and electoral stakeholders to act before the 2027 General Election.

The youth-led civic-tech organisation made the call following an Anthropic report documenting a Kenya-focused influence operation in which its Claude AI was used to generate political content, including material promoting Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.

In a statement issued on Saturday, September 12, Siasa Place called on the government to respond publicly to the findings and clarify whether state institutions or political actors were implicated in the operation.

The organisation said the findings highlight the need for safeguards against the use of AI to generate political content, create synthetic identities and coordinate online activity in ways that could influence public opinion.

Anthropic’s report documented an operation targeting Kenya’s online information environment, with some of the generated material praising Wandayi while other content targeted political figures and promoted narratives around Kenya’s political landscape.

Siasa Place said the issue goes beyond false information, warning that AI can also be used to create the appearance of widespread public support that does not reflect genuine citizen participation.

Siasa Place Warns of Manufactured Public Opinion

The group said AI has made it possible to produce political material on a scale that can make coordinated influence campaigns harder for ordinary users to identify.

“AI now makes it possible to produce political content at scale, create synthetic identities, amplify narratives and manufacture the appearance of widespread public support,” Siasa Place said.

It said Kenyans have a right to know whether political content they encounter online reflects genuine public participation or has been amplified through coordinated networks, automated accounts, synthetic personas or undisclosed influence operations.

Siasa Place wants Kenya’s emerging AI governance framework to specifically address the risks posed to elections, political communication and civic participation.

The organisation said the final Kenya Artificial Intelligence and Other Emerging Technologies Policy should recognise those areas as requiring heightened safeguards as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election.

Siasa Place also pointed to research and intelligence work by Kenyan organisations, including work conducted under TrustLab, which has tracked coordinated online influence, political intimidation, gendered attacks, hate speech, trolling, misinformation and the misuse of AI in Kenya’s digital spaces.

Also Read: US AI Firm Reveals Claude Misuse to Promote CS Opiyo Wandayi

Five Demands Ahead of 2027 Election

Siasa Place called on the government to publicly respond to the Anthropic findings and clarify whether any state institutions or political actors were implicated.

It also wants the government and Parliament to ensure Kenya’s AI governance framework covers AI-generated political propaganda, synthetic identities, deepfakes, political microtargeting and automated amplification.

Political parties and candidates have been urged to commit to ethical digital campaigning and reject fake accounts, fabricated grassroots support and deceptive synthetic media.

Technology platforms have also been asked to strengthen measures against coordinated manipulation while protecting legitimate political expression. Siasa Place wants greater transparency around political advertising and synthetic content.

The organisation further called on the IEBC, Parliament, civil society, researchers and technology companies to develop safeguards for AI use in the electoral process before the 2027 General Election.

Siasa Place separately urged the government and other stakeholders to invest in AI and media literacy so citizens, particularly young people, can better identify manipulated and synthetic content.

Siasa Place Calls for Digital Safeguards

The organisation said Kenya’s ambition to become a leader in AI and emerging technologies should be matched by measures protecting human rights, democratic accountability, freedom of expression and trustworthy public information.

Calling for media organisations, researchers and civil society groups to be able to investigate and expose information manipulation without intimidation or surveillance.

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

Siasa Place said action should be taken before the 2027 election period rather than waiting until campaigns are fully underway.

“AI must strengthen democratic participation, not manufacture it,” the organisation said.

The group called on government, political actors, technology platforms, media, civil society and citizens to protect the integrity of Kenya’s digital public sphere and ensure political participation remains genuine, transparent and accountable.

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Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi. PHOTO/Wandayi