Digital diaspora advocacy: a study of Kenyan UK WhatsApp groups

Anabwani, Edel 2026. Digital diaspora advocacy: a study of Kenyan UK WhatsApp groups. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

WhatsApp has become a central sociotechnical infrastructure for diasporic communication, advocacy, and community life. This thesis examines how Kenyan migrants in the United Kingdom use WhatsApp groups as hybrid civic arenas where digital diaspora advocacy, philanthropy, emotional labour, and accountability practices unfold in real time. Focusing on closed, encrypted groups, the study investigates how information circulates, how collective action is mobilised, and how norms of trust, belonging, and responsibility are negotiated across borders. To analyse these dynamics, the thesis develops a four‑part conceptual framework integrating Liberal Pluralism, Actor–Network Theory (ANT), Polymedia Theory, and Agenda‑Setting Theory. This multidimensional approach illuminates the normative, sociotechnical, relational, and agenda‑setting dimensions of WhatsApp engagement. In doing so, the study addresses a significant gap by centring African digital publics—particularly the Kenyan diaspora—whose civic practices on WhatsApp remain under‑examined despite their scale and political significance. Methodologically, the thesis employs a multimethod design combining digital ethnography, focus group discussions, and systematic content analysis of selected WhatsApp groups. This triangulated approach captures both the lived experiences of participants and the patterned features of their multimodal communication, while remaining attentive to the ethical and relational complexities of researching private digital spaces. The findings show that WhatsApp groups function as essential infrastructures for transnational mobilisation. They facilitate rapid responses to social justice challenges, humanitarian emergencies, and anti‑corruption initiatives; nurture emotional and spiritual support networks; and enable mechanisms for financial accountability and community governance. At the same From small exchanges, great solidarities Digital diaspora advocacy: A Study of Kenyan UK WhatsApp Groups time, these spaces are marked by tensions linked to misinformation, power dynamics, group norms, and the emotional pressures of diasporic life. Overall, the thesis makes a substantive contribution to media, migration, and digital activism scholarship by offering the first in‑depth, multimethod analysis of Kenyan diaspora WhatsApp groups as civic infrastructures. It advances understanding of digital citizenship, sociotechnical practices, and transnational nation‑building, while expanding the empirical and conceptual horizons of research on African digital publics. By illuminating the civic labour embedded in everyday messaging, the thesis highlights the transformative potential of diasporas to shape public discourse, influence reform, and build more connected, accountable societies. Keywords: Accountability; Actor–Network Theory; digital ethnography; digital diaspora advocacy; emotional labour; hybrid civic arenas; Kenyan diaspora; Liberal Pluralism; mixed‑methods research; philanthropy; Polymedia Theory; sociotechnical practices; transnational mobilisation; United Kingdom; WhatsApp groups; Agenda‑Setting Theory; democratic participation; diaspora.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Journalism, Media and Culture
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	26 May 2026
Last Modified:	02 Jun 2026 12:01
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187214

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