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From Kenya to US: How Indian Political Firms Run Covert Global Campaigns
An investigation by Al Jazeera has revealed how Indian political consultancies have expanded their operations internationally, orchestrating covert digital campaigns across continents. From William Ruto's 2022 presidential bid in Kenya to the 2026 US midterm elections in Michigan, foreign campaigns have utilized Indian-run networks of anonymous social media accounts, manipulated videos, and coordinated online messaging to manipulate voter perception. Digital workers were hired to edit speeches, fabricate claims, and target political rivals via shadow profiles while avoiding standard platform disclosures through virtual private networks and front entities. Covert financing mechanisms, including cross-border hawala channels, were also reportedly deployed. The report highlights the extreme perils associated with these invisible operations, noting the 2022 disappearance and murder of two Indian consultants working in Kenya, whose murder probe against fifteen police officers was discontinued by Kenya's High Court in August 2026. The findings raise serious concerns regarding electoral integrity and transparency in modern global democracies.
