By OLIVER MUSEMBI
As next year’s General Election approaches, young Kenyans have been urged to embrace the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to avoid spreading misleading or malicious information.
Innovation expert Donatus Njoroge says there has been an increase in cases of AI being misused to spread rumours and false information, and has advised young people, particularly students, to harness the technology for the benefit of society.
Njoroge, the Head of Innovation, Intellectual Property and Community Engagement at Mount Kenya University (MKU), urged university students to use AI to enhance research, create jobs and drive innovation.
Speaking at MKU after receiving students who recently won various global innovation awards, Njoroge outlined some of the repercussions of the negative use of AI, including the inability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, especially during election periods.
“As we approach the elections, the misuse of AI to spread rumours or propaganda can be dangerous. We are therefore urging young people to use the technology for the benefit of the country,” Njoroge said.
He also called on the Kenya National Innovation Agency to increase funding for innovators as a way of creating jobs and supporting entrepreneurship.
The students recently participated in international competitions in China and the United States, where they excelled in ICT and innovation contests, outperforming thousands of participants to win prestigious global awards.
Njoroge noted that MKU is equipping its learners with AI skills to help create jobs and improve productivity at a time when the country is grappling with limited formal employment opportunities.
He added that the university is partnering with various government and international agencies to promote technology and innovation among students.
Congratulating the winners upon their return to Kenya, Njoroge said the institution supports students with innovative ideas by helping them commercialise their projects and transform them into viable businesses.
“Our work revolves around helping students access training opportunities locally and internationally, while also connecting them to funding to support their innovations,” he said.
The award winners also emphasized the importance of using AI for research and innovation among students and young entrepreneurs.
Brian Ngugi, one of the Kenyan winners of the Huawei ICT Global Finals in Shenzhen, China, where he competed against more than 220,000 participants, said some people were unfortunately using AI irresponsibly, including manipulating images to spread misinformation.
“We are in an era where AI is sometimes being used for the wrong reasons. However, universities can help change this narrative by promoting its use in research and other beneficial areas,” he said.
Ngugi urged the government to work closely with universities to promote the positive use of AI.
Meanwhile, Wesley Njenga, who together with three colleagues won the prestigious Wege Prize 2026 in Michigan, USA, said AI should be embraced as a tool for industrial advancement.
He encouraged the government to partner with institutions such as MKU, which already has a functional innovation hub.
“The government is a key stakeholder in supporting young innovators and startups, which need access to funding, expertise and policymakers,” he said.
Njenga added that young people have a crucial role to play in solving global challenges.
“We are the next generation of problem-solvers. AI helps in validating data and is a tool every young person should be using. The MKU Innovation Hub made our work much easier,” he said.
He also appealed to both county and national governments to strengthen support for innovation through institutions of higher learning.
Njenga’s team developed EcoScrubber, a hybrid emission-control and carbon-capture system that converts toxic pollutants from incinerator chimneys into usable construction materials.
