Message From The Director.
There is a growing sense of civic awareness regarding governance and, therefore, the need to create space for better democracies. Equally, there is a growing media space, including traditional journalism and emerging/social media, which needs to be understood in relation to democratic participation and conflict resolution.
In addition, there is an increased focus on the implications of AI in the information environment (ecosystem) and, therein, emerging peace and security challenges that are worth exploring. It is argued that the promising potential of AI in conflict resolution and peacebuilding can only be realized in an environment that protects the integrity of data in the information environment because data is the fuel that drives AI. A complicated information environment therefore poses a threat to AI’s functionality in conflict resolution and peacebuilding going forward through AI for peace. Given the growing and wide-ranging conflicts in East Africa and beyond that need to be addressed from both an academic and policy perspective, there is a need to enhance RU’s graduate programs to deal with emerging issues and the trends in the market.
To this end, CMDPS has developed innovative programs such as the MSc and PhD in Media and Security Studies and is in the process of developing a MSc and PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Bioterrorism and Biosecurity that train students to empower next generation peacebuilders. Further, the Center organizes and participates in conferences, workshops and seminars locally and internationally in media and security. In the latter, the center has collaborated with institutions such as the Wilson Center, the Africa Peacebuilding Network of the Social Sciences Research Council, Alliance for Peacebuilding, International Panel on Information Environment, The Institute of Pan African Thought and Conversation, Institute for Security Studies, Institute of Peace and Security Studies, The National Crime Research Center and National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Swisspeace, INTERPOL and Signature Initiative to Mitigate Biological Threats in Africa (SIMBA) among others.
Despite the growing media space, there is no well-established center that focuses on the interconnections between media, democracy, peace/conflict, and security issues in Kenya. The CMDPS is therefore seeking to address this gap through innovative multidisciplinary programs that academically/theoretically focus on this interconnection and instituting practical interventions through field research projects, outreach activities and consultancies that help generate evidence that not only contribute to literature but also help transform policy direction on the intersection between media and security. The Center incubates innovative initiatives such as the AI for Peace Lab and Center, and produces policy briefs, journal articles, books and book chapters, as well as research reports for knowledge dissemination. It also conducts research projects that bridge theory and practice. In addition, the Center attracts both local and international visiting researchers, thereby fostering the cross-pollination of knowledge.
As universities increasingly become spaces for (in)security such as political extremism, radicalization and violent extremism, it is critical that they are equally exploited as spaces for innovative peace and security solutions that priorities local epistemic frameworks for knowledge production. Therefore, the center uses a Pan African institutional approaches anchored on the philosophies of Utu, Umoja and Harambee as foundational epistemic principles, calling for creative ways of harnessing the power of data science and AI in the service of humanity.
CMDPS would like to thank the Vice Chancellor Prof. Samuel Gudu, who has continuously supported the Center from its inception in 2014. The Center extends similar thanks to Prof. Agustino Onkware and Prof. Stanley Shitote, former DVC-ASA and AFP respectively. Special thanks are also extended to Prof. Michael Ntabo, DVC-ASA and Prof. Daniel Tarus, DVC-AFP for their ongoing support. We are also most grateful to Konza Technopolis Development Authority in the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy for their infrastructural support through the Jitume Digital Skills Laboratory that has supported our innovative research in AI and Peacebuilding among others. CMDPS is open and ready to forge new innovative research partnerships, collaborations and linkages in this age of uncertainties.