On March 26, 2025, the Joint Command and Staff College (JCSC) in Karen, Nairobi hosted its second symposium, themed “The Rise of Disinformation and Its Impact on National Security.” The event sought to address how disinformation manipulates public perception and behavior and the social consequences it generates, particularly concerning national security. The symposium brought together participants from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior, security experts, and scholars to confront the growing threat of disinformation in today’s world.
In his welcoming remarks, Commandant JCSC, Major General Erick Kinuthia, expressed gratitude to the participants for attending and emphasized the symposium’s focus on the pressing issue of disinformation.
“Information has become a powerful tool that adversaries use in their methods of engagement. They no longer rely solely on physical incursions but infiltrate our societies through deception and disinformation. In the digital age, the battlefield has expanded, and the integrity of truth itself is under threat,” he said.
The chief guest, Lieutenant General Jimson Mutai, Vice-Chancellor National Defence University-Kenya, underscored the gravity of the issue.
“It’s incumbent on us to remain vigilant to ensure that truth prevails. The challenge of disinformation requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. We must equip people with the skills to discern authenticity and defend against manipulation,” he stated.
In a keynote address, under the sub-theme “Psychological Warfare: How Fake News Manipulates Public Perception and Behaviour,” Brigadier Paul Njuguna, KDF’s Chief of Strategic Communications, explained that in today’s hyper-connected world, disinformation has evolved into a sophisticated weapon used to destabilize social order, fuel unrest, and exploit human psychology.
“It’s therefore imperative for us, as security agencies, to take a proactive, multi-stakeholder approach in order to build resilience, safeguard Kenya’s democratic institutions, and protect the public from threats posed by disinformation,” he concluded.
Panel discussions throughout the symposium addressed the operational impact of disinformation on mission effectiveness, civil-military relations, and national cohesion. Participants emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation, ongoing training, and doctrinal adaptation to meet the demands of the evolving threat landscape.
The symposium reflects JCSC’s commitment to developing strategic leadership training for military officers from the Kenya Defence Forces and allied countries, equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to tackle Kenya’s and Africa’s emerging challenges.
Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Resila Onyango, Commandant of the Diplomatic Police Unit and immediate former Spokesperson of the National Police Service, Brigadier David Chesire, Chief Instructor at JCSC, Prof. Fred Jonyo, Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Nairobi, and Colonel Emmanuel Chirchir of KDF, among others.
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