Uchaguzi was launched in Kenya in 2010 with objective of promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement during elections. The name "Uchaguzi" means "elections" in Swahili, one of Kenya's official languages. The project aimed to leverage technology and social media to facilitate real-time monitoring of elections and gather data on the electoral process to enhance transparency and fairness. Since 2010, Ushahidi has reconvened Uchaguzi in general elections held in 2013, 2017, and last year.

Reaffirming its utility as a national citizen-focused electoral observation platform, responding to citizen observations, the approach of Uchaguzi involves collaboration between various stakeholders. Citizens are encouraged to actively participate by reporting incidents of electoral malpractices, violence, or any irregularities they observe during the electoral process using familiar channels like WhatsApp, SMS, USSD, and social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The impact of Uchaguzi has been significant. This initiative empowers the electorate to actively engage in the electoral process and hold authorities accountable for any wrongdoings by providing citizens with a platform to report and document election-related incidents. The real-time monitoring of elections helps to deter potential electoral misconduct, reducing the likelihood of violence and fraud.

Moreover, the data collected through Uchaguzi provided valuable insights to electoral observers and policymakers, enabling them to make informed decisions and implement necessary improvements to the electoral system. The project also contributes to enhancing the overall credibility and integrity of the electoral process in Kenya.

Overall, Ushahidi's innovative use of technology and citizen engagement has played a vital role in fostering transparency and fairness during elections in Kenya and has served as a model for other countries striving to strengthen their democratic processes.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S8nSamJUwgVQCTlwLgwmMErAcK1o-D35/view?usp=sharing

• Kenya

Uchaguzi promotes WSIS goals by: Leveraging technology and social media to facilitate citizen engagement and real-time monitoring of elections, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Fostering collaboration between various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, technology experts, and government authorities, to enhance the credibility and integrity of the electoral system. Empowering citizens to actively participate in the democratic process by providing them with a platform to report election-related incidents and hold authorities accountable for any wrongdoings.