AI Expert Lindah Bonyo Warns: Kenya Must Regulate AI to Protect 2027 Election
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
Artificial Intelligence expert and Lawyers Hub founder and CEO Linda Bonyo has called for stronger regulation and greater transparency in the use of AI and emerging technologies in elections, warning that Kenya must prepare for new digital threats ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Annual Conference 2026, Bonyo said Kenya needs clear policies capable of addressing the growing influence of artificial intelligence on electoral processes, including data protection, cyber security, political micro-targeting and the use of automated systems.
“We work on artificial intelligence policy. We’ve done a lot of work across the African continent and also globally in the United States on how we can better regulate artificial intelligence,” Bonyo said.
She said the conversation around AI and elections has become increasingly urgent, noting that emerging technologies can potentially be exploited to manipulate voters, compromise systems and undermine public confidence in electoral processes.
According to Bonyo, Kenya must develop regulations that ensure technology used during elections remains consistent with constitutional principles of free, fair and credible elections.
She pointed to the growing use of AI-powered systems and data-driven political campaigns, particularly micro-targeting, as an area requiring closer scrutiny.
Bonyo warned that some technological risks may be difficult for ordinary citizens to detect, making transparency, accountability and independent oversight critical.
She also called for more transparent procurement processes for AI systems used in public institutions and electoral management, arguing that Kenyans need to know how such technologies are acquired, deployed and monitored.
The AI expert further noted that Kenya’s experience with data-related concerns during previous elections should serve as a lesson as the country prepares for 2027.
She urged electoral stakeholders to strengthen their capacity to identify emerging threats, including cyber security vulnerabilities, manipulation of digital platforms and misuse of personal data.
“It’s important for us as a country to better control elections and not allow a repeat of what happened in 2017, when we did not have the capacity to look at how data was compromised,” she said.
Bonyo’s remarks come as lawyers, technology experts and policymakers increasingly examine the intersection between AI, law, democracy and the future of work, with the LSK conference providing a platform for debate on how Kenya can harness technology while protecting fundamental rights.
As the 2027 election approaches, the debate over AI regulation is expected to intensify, particularly around the use of voter data, algorithmic targeting, cyber security, digital campaigning and the transparency of technology deployed in electoral processes.
