Countering disinformation and misinformation against the Judiciary: The role of courts and The Judicial Service Commission
by admin on | 2025-04-03 08:12:04
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The spread of disinformation and
misinformation has become a significant
threat to judicial independence and the
rule of law in Kenya. Disinformation—the
deliberate dissemination of falsehoods
intended to cause harm, whether economic,
political, or reputational—has been
weaponized in an increasingly digitalized
public sphere. Misinformation, though
often spread without malicious intent, also
contributes to a distorted public perception of judicial processes. Social media platforms,
which have enabled rapid and unfiltered communication, are now key tools for
undermining courts, bypassing institutional
safeguards, and eroding public trust in the
judiciary. Globally, political actors, including
authoritarian leaders, have manipulated
these platforms to delegitimize judicial
institutions, weaken public discourse,
and mobilize extremist supporters against
constitutional checks on their power.
In Kenya, two former Presidents of the
Law Society of Kenya, Senior Counsel
Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Nelson Havi,
have used their social media platforms,
particularly X (formerly Twitter), to mount
sustained attacks on the Judiciary. Their
rhetoric, often laced with unverified allegations and outright fabrications, has
sought to depict judges and magistrates
as corrupt and compromised. Without
presenting any credible evidence, they
have repeatedly accused Supreme Court
Judges of misconduct, creating a hostile
digital environment that fuels public
skepticism toward the Judiciary. This
systematic campaign of disinformation and
misinformation has significantly contributed
to the erosion of confidence in the courts,
further complicating the judiciary’s ability to
function as an impartial arbiter of justice.
Efforts to counter disinformation and
misinformation often focus on fact
checking, promoting media literacy, and ...Read more
