The Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), through its Centre for Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding (CRCP), officially launched the #SlashTheHate digital peacebuilding campaign on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at the University's Assembly Hall, with Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Hassan Ali Joho, attending as the Chief Guest.

The launch also brought other dignitaries together, including Mombasa Governor, Hon. Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir; Mombasa Woman Representative, Hon. Zamzam Mohamed; TUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Laila Abubakar; other political leaders, university professors, representatives of partner institutions and young people from more than 15 universities across the country.

The digital advocacy campaign, seeks to counter online hate speech, misinformation and incitement while promoting responsible digital engagement, dialogue, peaceful civic participation and appreciation of Kenya's diversity. It also aims to strengthen young people's role in shaping digital spaces and contributing to a peaceful and non-violent electoral environment ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Fathima Azmiya Badurdeen, Founder of CRCP and the campaign's lead patron at TUM, described #SlashTheHate as a youth-led and youth-designed initiative that recognises young people as active participants in peacebuilding rather than passive recipients of advocacy messages.

She introduced the DARE approach, which stands for Define, Assess, Respond and Evaluate, as a guiding framework for engaging with potentially harmful online content. The approach encourages digital users to understand the content they encounter, assess its implications, consider appropriate responses and evaluate the potential consequences before engaging with or sharing it.

Dr Azmiya noted that the launch builds on several months of youth engagement, training and partnerships with universities, including Garissa University. The initiative has also attracted media partnerships and support from university patrons across more than 15 institutions, reflecting its growing national reach.

The campaign has three key objectives: developing and sharing innovative digital peacebuilding messages and products across online platforms; establishing safe digital spaces that support youth engagement, dialogue and peaceful civic mobilisation; and countering hate speech, misinformation and online incitement that could contribute to electoral violence.

The campaign will provide young people with opportunities to develop creative digital advocacy products, including videos, graphics, poetry and other forms of messaging that challenge hate and promote peaceful coexistence. The initiative will culminate in a national competition and awards event in April 2027, recognising outstanding contributions. An advocacy component will also support the dissemination of selected products through partnerships with civil society organisations and communities.

In his remarks, Chief Guest Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hon. Hassan Ali Joho, rallied young people from the participating universities to embrace peace and recognise Kenya's diversity as a source of strength. He commended TUM, through CRCP, for taking the initiative to promote a peaceful and non-violent General Election scheduled for August 2027.

The CS observed that democratic participation should allow citizens to disagree on matters of principle without resorting to hatred, violence or division. He challenged young people to use social media responsibly to promote peace, amplify credible information, counter hate speech and contribute to building a united Kenya.

He further encouraged participants to choose dialogue over division, facts over falsehoods and peace over provocation, emphasising that the country's differences should strengthen rather than divide its people.

Mombasa Governor Hon. Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of responsible leadership and respectful disagreement, particularly within the country's political environment.

He expressed concern over the use of insults and abusive language by some leaders to advance political interests, noting that it was encouraging to see young people taking the lead in demonstrating that disagreements can be expressed respectfully.

The Governor challenged leaders to provide the same example they expect from young people, underscoring their responsibility to promote constructive engagement rather than hostility and division.

Mombasa Woman Representative Hon. Zamzam Mohamed and County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Vocational Training Dr. Abuyaasir Mbwarali Kame also attended the event in support of the initiative.

In her remarks, TUM Vice-Chancellor Prof. Laila Abubakar challenged young people to resist being used by politicians to spread hate speech, misinformation and incite political violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.

She emphasised the importance of responsible social media use, accountable political participation and the preservation of national unity. She cautioned that young people who accept money to participate in political violence risk losing their lives, sustaining permanent injuries or facing arrest and prosecution.

The Vice-Chancellor reminded participants that no amount of money could compare with the value of human life or compensate for the pain experienced by families who lose their loved ones. She urged young people to consider the consequences of their actions and refuse to become instruments of political hostility and violence.

Concluding her remarks, Prof. Abubakar called on participants to embrace respectful disagreement, encouraging them to "disagree agreeably" even when they hold different opinions.

TUM Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic, Research and Extension, Prof. Peter Gichangi, observed that communication, whether spoken, written or expressed through silence, carries responsibility.

He encouraged participants to be deliberate about their words and actions, noting that the same platforms that can spread hostility can also promote reconciliation, unity and peaceful coexistence.

The University leadership reaffirmed TUM's commitment to using education, research and community engagement to address challenges affecting society, including online hate and violence. Through CRCP, the University is positioning young people as important partners in advancing digital peacebuilding and strengthening social cohesion.

Representatives from partner institutions also welcomed the initiative and encouraged young people to exercise responsibility in their online engagements. They emphasised the importance of verifying information before sharing it, resisting the misuse of digital platforms for political or divisive purposes, and using social media to promote constructive dialogue.

Registration for the competition opens on 9 November 2026 through the campaign website, www.slashthehate.com, with content submissions running from 10 November 2026 to 26 February 2027. Participants can submit creative works in various formats, including videos, graphics, podcasts, photography, posters, music and animations. Entries will be reviewed by a jury in March 2027, with winners recognised at the #SlashTheHate Awards in April 2027 at the Technical University of Mombasa.