Report

#SpeakUp: Using Social Media to Promote Police Accountability in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

Little research has been conducted to assess the impact and potential of social media on the
public’s engagement in police accountability in Africa. This report explores whether social media can promote more effective police accountability in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The content of the public’s engagement with the police on social media platforms in these countries is analysed over a two-month period and the impact of this engagement is then examined. The report outlines the methodology applied in the study before giving an overview of the role of social media in holding the police accountable. The findings of the research for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are presented, followed by a brief comparative analysis and discussion. The report concludes by providing
recommendations for how the public might productively engage in police accountability through
social media platforms.