Authors: Joseph Omondi Ochieng’1 and Cliff Ooga Obwogi2
1&2National Defence University-Kenya
P.O. Box 24381-00502, Karen, Nairobi, Kenya
Email: omoshbob@yahoo.com
Abstract
Social media platforms have made the globe into a global village by allowing people to communicate information quickly, independent of their physical locations, in addition to promoting the flow of information. Although social media technology has many advantages, it has also been misused to the point that it poses serious security risks to the country. This study sought to evaluate the application of social media by security organs and agencies to detect and prevent threats to national security in Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was employed. The target population of 274 respondents comprised the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Kenya Defence Forces. A sample size of 90 individuals was used for the data collection, which was done via questionnaire forms. The respondents were identified through purposive sampling due to the strategic and security nature of the research. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data was collected from published Books and Journals. Data was analysed using SPSS and presented using pie charts, bar graphs, tables and narratives. According to the study, social media may be a useful tool for spotting and stopping threats to Kenya’s national security, but it can also have unfavorable effects including disseminating false information (misinformation and disinformation), escalating confrontations, and aiding the spread of extremism. Facebook and Twitter (X) were viewed as the social media sites that may be utilized to track and curtail inappropriate online conduct. The paper makes recommendations, including enhancing the use of social media intelligence for visa screening, emphasizing primarily on Facebook and Twitter (X) as the social media platforms to watch, and promoting the use of social media to enhance security. It is also recommended to put in place efficient social media laws and enhance social media activity tracking.
Keywords: Social media monitoring, national security, threat detection, threat prevention, intelligence gathering, security agencies
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Suggested Citation
Ochieng’, O.J. & Obwogi, C.O. (2025). Application of Social Media by Security Organs and Agencies to Detect and Prevent Threats to National Security in Kenya. African Research Journal of Education and Social Sciences, 12(3), 79-93.