The youth-led protests that swept across Kenya in 2024 and 2025, widely referred to as the “Gen Z protests,” have exposed the dual role of digital platforms as tools for political mobilization and instruments of state repression.
Amnesty International has documented the government’s violent response, estimating that at least 3,000 arbitrary arrests, 83 enforced disappearances, and 128 killings occurred since June 2024.
The protests, sparked by widespread opposition to the 2024 Finance Bill, mobilized young Kenyans around the country through social media platforms such as TikTok and X.
Many viewed the legislation as worsening economic hardship, prompting large-scale demonstrations in Nairobi and eventually spreading to 44 of Kenya’s 47 counties.
The movement, formally leaderless, relied heavily on social media-savvy campaigns, online fundraising for arrested activists, and chatbots to disseminate critical information.
Despite the largely peaceful nature of the protests, the Kenyan government responded with excessive force, including live and rubber bullets, water cannons, tear gas, and batons.
On 25 June 2024, a week of escalating demonstrations culminated in protesters entering parliament.
President William Ruto labeled the protests “treasonous,” coinciding with a nationwide internet slowdown that disrupted connectivity by nearly 40%, according to monitoring by Access Now.
Amnesty International’s research reveals a systematic pattern of repression targeting online activists. Young human rights defenders (HRDs) reported harassment, threats, and enforced disappearances, often linked to their social media presence.
Mwalimu, a Mombasa-based HRD, said, “The government actually fears when young people come together on social media.” Others described threats against their families, doxing, and targeted campaigns aimed at silencing dissent.
Digital platforms have also been exploited to spread disinformation and amplify state-backed narratives.
Coordinated online harassment campaigns, often involving paid “troll” networks, discredited HRDs as “paid activists” or falsely accused them of fabricating their experiences.
Agnes*, a Kisumu-based LGBTI advocate, described being targeted with posts claiming that queer advocacy was “satanic” or “alien to Kenyan values,” reflecting a deliberate strategy to stigmatize marginalized groups.
State surveillance played a key role in targeting protesters. Amnesty International documented instances of police tracking activists through mobile phone records, allegedly facilitated by Safaricom, Kenya’s largest telecom provider.
While Safaricom denied unlawful surveillance, cases of enforced disappearances linked to call tracking have heightened fears across the country.
The expansion of facial recognition and spyware further underscores the growing risks faced by online activists.
The protests’ long-term effects on civil society are significant. Young HRDs report self-censorship, mental health struggles, and fear of participating in activism.
Women and LGBTI activists are particularly vulnerable to tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), including threats, doxing, and AI-generated pornography intended to intimidate. Hanifa Adan, a prominent HRD, described the daily harassment she faces as “taking away the spark, the joy… it took away who I was.”
Amnesty International calls for immediate accountability and institutional reform.
Recommendations include halting online and offline harassment, conducting independent inquiries into human rights violations, and ensuring social media platforms like X strengthen safeguards against state-sponsored disinformation and abuse.
The Gen Z protests mark a pivotal moment in Kenya’s struggle for social justice and youth political engagement.
Despite facing systemic repression, young activists remain determined to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Amnesty International emphasizes that safeguarding these rights is critical to Kenya’s democratic future.
