‘Too aggressive’ or ‘slay queens’: gendered attacks, threats and disinformation in Kenyan elections

Disinformation has become a key feature of electoral campaigns globally, shaping political narratives and influencing voter perceptions – an emerging trend which is also evident in African elections. In Kenya, gendered disinformation was identified as a prominent theme in the attacks and threats levelled against women in politics during the 2017 and 2022 elections. These attacks, ranging from online trolling to explicit threats of gender-based violence, including genital mutilation, represent a significant barrier to women’s political participation. While previous studies have examined the broader context of political violence surrounding Kenyan elections, limited research has focused specifically on the attacks and threats faced by women politicians, especially in the digital space. To address this gap, this exploratory study draws on semi-structured interviews with eleven individuals working in areas related to gendered attacks, threats and disinformation in Kenya, including journalism, digital rights, academia and civic society organisations that focus on women’s empowerment. These are complemented by an analysis of secondary news media content to illustrate some of the examples mentioned by the interviewees. Our findings reveal the complex intersection of disinformation, gendered political violence and digital harassment faced by Kenyan women politicians.