Grok, the AI chatbot hosted on Elon Musk’s X platform, has gained immense popularity among Kenyans, who have been turning to it for blunt and direct political answers. The chatbot’s responses have sparked intense discussions online, particularly due to its seemingly straightforward take on Kenya’s political landscape.
One of the biggest attractions of Grok is its ability to provide unfiltered, no-nonsense responses. Kenyans on X have been bombarding the chatbot with politically charged questions, with the most popular one being: “Who is the most corrupt politician in Kenya?” Unlike traditional AI chatbots that often provide diplomatic or vague answers, Grok has been giving direct responses, making it a favorite among users.
Unsurprisingly, President William Ruto has dominated most of the questions posed to Grok, with many responses labeling him in controversial terms. When asked, “Which Kenyan politician must be voted out in 2027?” Grok simply answered, “William Ruto.” Similarly, when prompted about politicians who have benefited the most from corruption and land grabbing, the chatbot’s answer remained the same. Opposition leader Raila Odinga has also been a subject of inquiry, with Grok identifying him as the “biggest opportunist in Kenyan politics.”
Beyond politics, Kenyans have also been engaging Grok with humorous and even absurd questions. Some have tested its understanding of Kenyan slang, while others have questioned its own safety in the country. One X user jokingly asked, “@Grok, how long do you think it will take before you get abducted in Kenya?” highlighting the satirical nature of some interactions.
The heavy usage of Grok in Kenya even coincided with a global outage of the chatbot. On March 29, Grok’s official account posted about experiencing high demand, which some Kenyans took credit for, humorously suggesting that their persistent political inquiries had contributed to the downtime.
While Grok’s responses have been amusing and at times controversial, the chatbot’s rise in popularity highlights Kenyans’ growing curiosity about AI and its role in shaping political discourse. Whether insightful or provocative, Grok is proving to be an unexpected player in Kenya’s digital political arena.
