A new report has detailed how the state used social media and digital tools to suppress Generation Z-led protests between June 2024 and July 2025.
Amnesty International, in its latest report, says at least 128 people were killed, 3,000 arrested, and 83 forcibly disappeared.
The protests, organised by young people under 28, opposed corruption and new tax legislation and took place across 44 counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
Social media played a central role in mobilising demonstrators and amplifying their voices.
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Authorities responded with online threats, smear campaigns, incitement to hatred and surveillance, undermining rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Our analysis of online activity throughout several waves of protests in 2024 and 2025 and the interviews we’ve conducted with young human rights defenders clearly demonstrate widespread and coordinated tactics on digital platforms to silence and suppress protests by young activists, including through online threats, intimidating comments, abusive language, smearing and targeted disinformation,” observed Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General.
State-sponsored trolls and paid networks amplified pro-government messages to dominate Kenya’s top daily trends on X.
Some campaigns were later used to justify arrests, enforced disappearances and killings of protest organisers.
Mariam*, a 27-year-old Mombasa activist who was forcibly disappeared for two nights, recounted, “I had people coming into my inbox and telling me, ‘You will die and leave your kids. We will come and attack you.'” Another activist, Joseph*, received a message on X stating, “We are coming for you.”
Prominent journalist and human rights defender Hanifa Adan, targeted with Islamophobic and defamatory posts after appearing in a BBC documentary on the 25 June 2024 shootings, said, “Having strangers say things about you every single day, being targeted every single day, it’s hard. It took away the spark, the joy. It took away who I was.”
Paid campaigns and algorithm manipulation were used to drown out protest messages.
John*, who runs one network, explained, “Most of the things you see trending in Kenya, I’m among the people doing that.” Counter-hashtags such as #RutoMustGoOn replaced popular protest hashtags in real time.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen responded: “The Government of Kenya does not sanction harassment or violence against any citizen. All security agencies are required to operate strictly within the constitution and applicable laws, and any officer implicated in unlawful conduct bears individual responsibility and is subject to investigation and sanction in accordance with the law.”
Amnesty International called on the government to end tech-facilitated state violence, investigate enforced disappearances and unlawful killings, and compensate victims and families.
“The chilling effects of such harassment and incitement to violence go far beyond their immediate targets. It must be stopped before it silences critical voices, undermines civil liberties and fosters a culture of fear irreconcilable with our constitutional freedoms,” explained Irungu Houghton, Amnesty Kenya Executive Director.
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A new report has detailed how the state used social media and digital tools to suppress Generation Z-led protests between June 2024 and July 2025.
Amnesty International, in its latest report, says at least 128 people were killed, 3,000 arrested, and 83 forcibly disappeared.
The protests, organised by young people under 28,
opposed corruption and new tax legislation and took place across 44 counties
, including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
Social media played a central role in mobilising demonstrators and amplifying their voices.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
Authorities responded with online threats, smear campaigns, incitement to hatred and surveillance, undermining rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Our analysis of online activity throughout several waves of protests in 2024 and 2025 and the interviews we’ve conducted with young human rights defenders clearly demonstrate widespread and coordinated tactics on digital platforms to silence and suppress protests by young activists, including through online threats, intimidating comments, abusive language, smearing and targeted disinformation,” observed Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International Secretary General.
State-sponsored trolls and paid networks amplified pro-government messages to dominate Kenya’s top daily trends on X.
Some campaigns were later used to justify arrests, enforced disappearances and killings of protest organisers.
Mariam*, a 27-year-old Mombasa activist who was forcibly disappeared for two nights, recounted, “I had people coming into my inbox and telling me, ‘You will die and leave your kids. We will come and attack you.'” Another activist, Joseph*, received a message on X stating, “We are coming for you.”
Prominent journalist and human rights defender Hanifa Adan, targeted with Islamophobic and defamatory posts after appearing in a BBC documentary on the 25 June 2024 shootings, said, “Having strangers say things about you every single day, being targeted every single day, it’s hard. It took away the spark, the joy. It took away who I was.”
Paid campaigns and algorithm manipulation were used to drown out protest messages.
John*, who runs one network, explained, “Most of the things you see trending in Kenya, I’m among the people doing that.” Counter-hashtags such as #RutoMustGoOn replaced popular protest hashtags in real time.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen responded: “The Government of Kenya does not sanction harassment or violence against any citizen. All security agencies are required to operate strictly within the constitution and applicable laws, and any officer implicated in unlawful conduct bears individual responsibility and is subject to investigation and sanction in accordance with the law.”
Amnesty International called on the government to end tech-facilitated state violence, investigate enforced disappearances and unlawful killings, and compensate victims and families.
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“The chilling effects of such harassment and incitement to violence go far beyond their immediate targets. It must be stopped before it silences critical voices, undermines civil liberties and fosters a culture of fear irreconcilable with our constitutional freedoms,” explained Irungu Houghton, Amnesty Kenya Executive Director.
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on WhatsApp
By David Njaaga