TikTok launches in-app Kenyan General Election hub

Giant short-form video sharing app TikTok on Thursday announced that it had launched product features and completed in-market activities aimed at helping its community access factual and authoritative information about Kenya’s upcoming August General Election.

The event held at Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi attracted digital techies, media, corporate organisations, civil societies, educational institutions, government and NGOs that form part of the TikTok community in Kenya.

The efforts are part of TikTok's commitment to curb misinformation in the lead up to the elections and ensure that information is disseminated responsibly.

The company said it believes that collaboration with experts and organizations will help strengthen its efforts to protect against harm and misuse on its platform.

“We are engaging with diverse stakeholders in Kenya to discuss opportunities and challenges for dynamic solutions in a fast-paced digital world,” said TikTok’s SSA Public Policy and Government Relations Director, Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda.

“Our resolve is to spread positivity in markets where we operate as we promote peaceful coexistence.”

As part of the initiative, TikTok launched a 3-part series titled #TikTokForPeace in partnership with Article19 which is a series of TikTok Live streams hosted at Strathmore University, Policy Innovation Centre and streamed on the Article19 TikTok page featuring key opinion formers in government, civil society and academia, to focus on tolerance, building bridges and active citizenship.

The stakeholder engagements in conjunction with the launch of the elections hub in Kenya affirms TikTok’s commitment to being a responsible industry leader that aims to make a positive impact in Africa and the world.

“TikTok plays a significant role in shaping discourse around important topics. Using TikTok as a medium through which to engender an atmosphere of mutual cooperation during Kenya’s general election period is part of our resolve to provide a platform that promotes peace and provides a safe space for positive digital expression,” said Mgwili-Sibanda.

In Kenya and beyond, the TikTok community is encouraged to be a part of the campaign by reporting harmful content that appears untrue and fuels political intolerance in any way.

The workshop also emphasised TikTok’s continued efforts in ensuring protection of safe spaces and privacy of children on the platform through its in-app features.