Kenya is now navigating a post-truth era, where false statements are often accepted and repeated as fact, Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo has warned.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Wednesday, he said credible media must remain protected spaces for verification, even as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how news is produced and consumed.
“Statements completely devoid of the truth, but it's being stated as the truth, and yet there is always a constituency of people who will consume it as the truth,” Omwoyo said, describing what he encounters on social media.
He noted that the rise of online misinformation has forced him to scrutinize content more closely than before. “These days I do. And I give. I take the time to comb through yes and the things I encounter just blow my mind,” he said, pointing out that even people who usually think carefully sometimes make alarming claims.
The CEO highlighted the challenge of artificial intelligence in news production, noting that AI tools now enable rapid creation of false narratives, deepfakes, and fabricated content that can spread faster than traditional fact-checking.
In one case, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary shared an AI-generated deepfake video made to appear like a CNN broadcast about Sudan peace talks, prompting a public apology after it was flagged as fake.
Deepfakes are increasingly convincing, using machine learning to manipulate speech, lighting, and facial expressions, making detection difficult and eroding trust in visual media. KE-CIRT/CC reported that Kenya experienced a more than 200 percent rise in AI-driven phishing and deepfake attacks in early 2025, while deepfake incidents across Africa surged seven-fold from 2024.
Omwoyo explained that false narratives often gain traction due to confirmation bias. “It will not be verified. It will be consumed and it will be regurgitated as was presented,” he said, noting discussions around possible election violence in 2027 as an example of perception-driven claims.
“I do not see a similarity. If there's something you're seeing, let me see it as well, because I don't understand it.”
Describing today’s information environment as “a mad market,” Omwoyo said everyone has an opinion and a platform, but credible media houses must remain spaces for verification.
“Radio especially credible radio still is probably one of the leading media in credibility,” he said. “For truth and verification, this is still highly regarded.”
On AI, Omwoyo said the technology is already embedded in daily life, helping with tasks from predictive text to news analysis.
“Give me a 200 words new story, and it summarizes for you,” he said, adding that AI can even compare presidential speeches over years within minutes. While some fear AI might replace journalists, he dismissed the idea. “There’s no way AI is going to replace you, because you have to command it. AI is going to replace the person who can't use it.”
He warned that AI systems operate on “garbage in, garbage out.” “It will gather from everywhere, including websites run by charlatans,” he said, urging users to guide AI with precise instructions. “Restrict yourself to World Bank, UN and government publications. If you throw a general question into the crowd, you will get a general answer.”
Omwoyo stressed that without prior knowledge, users may struggle to verify AI outputs. He concluded that technology should strengthen rather than weaken journalism, emphasizing that credible media must remain the places where people can confirm what is true in a digital landscape of cloned logos, fake voices, and viral claims.
