Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) has partnered with Search for Common Ground (SCG) to initiate a programme intended to raise awareness against femicide and Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV).
Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) in Charge of Academic Affairs, Research and Extension at TUM, Professor Peter Gichangi stated that technology and online spaces are increasingly being misused and weaponized against women on the basis of their gender.
“We’ve all seen how technology can be weaponized. Whether it’s someone invading another’s privacy or using online platforms to harm others, these actions are unacceptable,” he said.
According to Gichangi, TUM is keen to play the role of raising awareness and developing strategies for safer online environment and digital peace-building.
“As a University we have an institute of computing and informatics which will churn out experts who will research on digital tools that can be used to ensure individuals are safe in digital spaces,” the DVC said during the launch of the programme at TUM.
“The MoU seeks to address TFGBV, digital peace-building, amplify the voices of the young people in the society and the promotion of freedom of religion and belief,” the Director added. “Our work as peace builders will be supported through research and knowledge.”
One such solution is BridgeBot, a chatbot designed by SCG in collaboration with TangibleAI which helps social media users handle online disagreements constructively, equipping them with empathy and non-violent communication skills.
“Many people shy away from heated discussions online because they lack the tools to respond constructively. BridgeBot offers guidance, helping users build trust and understanding,” said Derrick Ouko, SCG Communication Officer.
As part of the partnership, TUM will also establish a Peace Club to advance the initiative’s goals, encouraging students and the wider community to engage in dialogue and promote harmony.
The programme, according to SCG Director in charge of the Horn of Africa, Judy Kimamo, addresses the misuse of digital platforms to monitor and harm victims, with a focus on creating safer online spaces and promoting peace.
While pointing out the dangerous role technology plays in fueling conflicts, including cross-border disputes, she said some of the conflicts currently being witnessed in the region are driven through technology and have since evolved into cross border conflicts.
“Technology is transforming how young people interact, but we must recognize how algorithms and digital tools can spread harmful messages and heighten tensions,” Kimamo reckoned.
In addition to tackling TFGBV, the partnership will explore religious coexistence and peacebuilding.
“Conflicts driven by religious divisions have cost lives in Kenya and beyond,” Professor Gichangi noted. “Our goal is to foster understanding and collaboration, both online and offline.”
The country has lately been rife with a number of technology-facilitated violence cases.
In one high-profile case early this year, Rita Waeni, a 20-year-old Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) student, was murdered after connecting with her alleged killer on Instagram.
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Detectives revealed that the suspect avoided phone calls, relying solely on social media to communicate before the meeting that led to her death.
Similarly, the dangers of online conflict are equally stark globally.
For instance, last year, the Washington DC-based Magazine-The Atlantic Published a classic case of tech-facilitated conflict where two friends both aged 26 in West Philadelphia were killed in a hail of bullets, in what police said was “because of a clash on social media among some teenagers they’d never even met.”
According to the Atlantic, Jarell Jackson in the company of his friend Shahjahan McCaskill, had parked his Hyundai Sonata, outside his mother’s house in the evening when a black SUV pulled up and the people inside started shooting. Both he and McCaskill were pronounced dead at the hospital.
By Hilton Mwabili
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