MKU champions ethical AI use amid election misinformation fears
MKU is equipping its learners with AI skills to prepare them for the future job market and improve problem-solving capabilities.
As Kenya moves closer to the 2027 General Election, young people have been urged to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly to prevent the spread of misinformation and propaganda that could undermine the country’s democratic processes.
Speaking at Mount Kenya University (MKU), the institution’s Head of Innovations, Intellectual Property and Community Engagement, Donatus Njoroge, cautioned against the growing misuse of AI tools to generate and disseminate false information, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
Njoroge challenged students and young people to harness AI for productive purposes such as research, innovation and entrepreneurship, saying the technology has immense potential to create jobs and address the country’s unemployment challenges.
“As we approach the elections, misuse of AI to spread rumours or propaganda can be dangerous. We are asking our young people to use the technology for the benefit of the country,” he said.
He was speaking while welcoming MKU students who recently returned from international innovation competitions in China and the United States, where they won prestigious awards in information and communication technology (ICT) and innovation, outperforming thousands of participants from across the world.
Njoroge said MKU is equipping its learners with AI skills to prepare them for the future job market and improve problem-solving capabilities.
He noted that the university is collaborating with government agencies and international partners to promote technology and innovation among students.
He further called on the Kenya National Innovation Agency and other government institutions to increase funding for innovators, arguing that investment in innovation would stimulate job creation and economic growth.
“Our work revolves around helping students gain access to training opportunities locally and abroad, as well as funding to support and commercialise their innovations,” he said.
Among the award-winning students was Brian Ngugi, a member of the Kenyan team that emerged victorious at the Huawei ICT Global Finals in Shenzhen, China, beating more than 220,000 participants worldwide.
Ngugi observed that while AI has become an indispensable tool, some people are using it irresponsibly, including manipulating images to spread distorted information.
“We are in an era where AI is being used for all the bad things, but universities can change this narrative and utilise it in research and other beneficial purposes,” he said, urging the government to partner with universities in promoting the ethical use of the technology.
Another student innovator, Wesley Njenga, whose team won the prestigious Wege Prize 2026 in Michigan, United States, said AI should be embraced as a catalyst for industrial growth and innovation.
Njenga called on both county and national governments to strengthen partnerships with institutions of higher learning that have established innovation ecosystems, citing MKU’s innovation hub as an example.
“The government is a key stakeholder in supporting young innovators and startups, which need access to funding, experts and policymakers,” he said.
He described AI as an essential tool for validating data and solving complex global challenges, adding that MKU’s innovation hub played a significant role in supporting their success.
Njenga’s team developed EcoScrubber, a hybrid emission control and carbon-capture system that converts toxic pollutants emitted from incinerator chimneys into usable construction materials, demonstrating the potential of youth-led innovations to address environmental challenges.
