Barrack Obama's political victory in 2008 was partly because he won the audiences online over.
2012 is coming and Kenya is going to the polls under the new constitution. while that’s good news for Kenya, it means that politicians have to work harder to clinch the top seat.

What politicians don’t realize is that an online campaign is much cheaper to run than those rallies they hold all over Kenya. Plus there’s a likely hood that they can reach more people online. Here’s how, there are more than a million Kenya on Facebook and another number nearing that on Twitter. If you converse with these and win a number over with your policies, they become your ambassadors offline in the places they live and spread your Gospel. All you need is a free social media account and give your time for conversation with normal Kenyans.
Something I’ve not seen though is a serious online strategy with any politician (except for Uhuru). Uhuru Kenyatta has been doing a lot to win over audiences on social media, even creating a team especially for this purpose. TeamUhuru, as they are known on Facebook and twitter, have been conversing with tweeps and Facebook fans online. Uhuru Kenyatta himself finds time to converse online. This strategy might just win him the online race.

Even though we have seen other candidates opening accounts on social media sites, we’re yet to see some serious conversation coming out of these politicians. To win us over they have to make an effort to convince us they’re the best.

Iron lady and presidential hopeful,Martha Karua, is among politicians scrabbling for social media attention. Others are Raila Odinga (the guy to beat come 2012), Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and ODM rebel MP, William Ruto.

What do you think politicians ought to be conversing with us about online?

Who is winning you over with their social media campaign? leave a comment below.