After a year of violent crackdowns on mass street protests, the Kenyan government has shifted its focus to digital spaces, launching an aggressive campaign against online dissent.

Human rights organisations and civil society actors warn that this move represents a deepening authoritarian trend designed to silence criticism and stifle democratic freedoms in Kenya.

In 2024, nationwide protests erupted in opposition to the controversial Finance Bill. Led primarily by youth, the demonstrations were met with deadly force, mass arrests and internet blackouts.

Now, the state appears to be waging a second front: targeting online activists, content creators and civil society groups under sweeping anti-terrorism laws.

From Albert Ojwang’s arrest and death in police custody to prominent activist Boniface Mwangi, fears have intensified of a coordinated campaign by authorities to silence digital activism.

In late June 2025, protests erupted again, driven by anger over corruption, poverty and police brutality. As demonstrations turned chaotic in some areas, the state responded with mass arrests and harsh terrorism-related charges.

The state has filed terrorism charges against 37 individuals, claiming they incited violence and destroyed public property.

Among the accused are youth organisers, students and online activists. The charges are being used to deter further protests.

As physical protests are suppressed, Kenya’s digital space has become a battleground. Authorities have arrested users over content shared on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and WhatsApp. Some were linked to memes, satire or AI-generated videos criticising President William Ruto and senior officials.

Activists John Mulingwa (Garang), Mark Amiani (Generali) and Francis Mwangi (Chebukati) were arrested on a bus to Mombasa. Police claim they incited violence through online messaging. Civil society groups reject these allegations, calling the men respected human rights defenders.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the three are suspected of mobilising goons during the June 25 protests.

“In an intelligence-led operation conducted on Friday, June 27, DCI detectives intercepted and arrested three ill-reputed campaigners who, through coordinated channels and social media posts, incited goons to violence, massive theft, and destruction of property,” DCI said in a statement.

On August 5, detectives arrested Shadrack Omondi Okindo, alias Hon Mosquito, in connection with a seditious video widely circulated on TikTok on August 1, 2025.

“The inflammatory clip, which contained threats of violence and incitement against public order, quickly went viral, triggering public concern and swift action from security agencies. Following forensic leads, detectives tracked Okindo to his hideout in the Miritini area of Mombasa County, where he was swiftly apprehended,” police said in a statement.

The digital clampdown has also ensnared former state officers. Patrick Nyambaka Osoi, a veteran of both the Kenya Defence Forces and the US military, was charged with terrorism-related offenses. His associate, Jackson Kuria Kihara, better known as Cop Shakur, was also arrested.

Their arrests have fuelled accusations that the state is targeting not criminals, but digital activists.

As activists face abduction, surveillance and criminalisation, civil society groups warn that the line between governance and authoritarianism is rapidly eroding.

Online content has become one of the main catalysts for targeting activists. In one disturbing case, Billy Mwangi, a 24-year-old student, was allegedly abducted for sharing an image suggesting President Ruto lying in a coffin.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), since the youth protest movement against the government erupted in June 2024, there have been 82 cases of abductions and enforced disappearances, with 29 still missing, many connected to digital expressions of dissent.

Activist Rose Njeri, a software developer who created a tool enabling citizens to voice opposition via email to the Finance Committee, was arrested in May 2025. Authorities accused her of disrupting official systems through violations of cybercrime laws—sparking widespread criticism from rights groups.

When TikToker Kakan Maiyo posted a video criticising police abductions, he was briefly detained before release. The DCI labelled his remarks as potential threats to public order.

Authorities argue the arrests and charges aim to curb violence, not suppress dissent. Following the June 2025 protests, which erupted after the death of blogger-teacher Albert Ojwang in custody, prosecutors charged 37 individuals with terrorism for allegedly inciting chaos online and destroying property.

But civil society sees through the narrative. These legal manoeuvres have targeted youth, students, digital satirists and whistleblowers.

As youth continue to use satire, memes, AI content and digital storytelling to push for justice, the government’s surveillance state grows more invasive. Without legal reform, judicial independence and unwavering civil resistance, the digital public square risks becoming a heavily policed zone.

A report on the safety and security of bloggers in Kenya by the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Paradigm Initiative and Article 19 Eastern Africa has revealed an increase in deaths, abductions and arrests targeting bloggers and activists in 2024.

The report, titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019–2024), documents violations against bloggers over the past five years, highlighting the precarious nature of their work.

James Wamathai, Partnerships and Advocacy Manager at BAKE underscored the urgent need to protect bloggers, emphasising that digital rights are human rights.

“We are asking to be protected. The same human rights that exist offline should be safeguarded online. If one class of society is not safe, then no one is safe. The safety and security of bloggers should be a concern for everyone,” he said at the launch of the report.

James Wamathai also said the government is heavily infringing on the rights of digital creators.

“These rights we are asking to be protected are nothing new. The same human rights we enjoy offline must be preserved online. The safety of bloggers is directly tied to the safety of journalists and the general public,” he said.

Angela Minayo of Article 19 accuses authorities of silencing online dissent.

“We are seeing ordinary citizens who merely post on Facebook or X being abducted, arrested, or slapped with trumped-up charges. The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act has become the law of choice for silencing dissent. Even more alarming is the proposed amendment, which would allow the blocking of websites without judicial oversight. That’s a dangerous path,” said Ms Minayo.

Interior and National Administration CS Kipchumba Murkomen has repeatedly defended the state, saying it will not relent in its terrorism charges against individuals engaging in terrorist acts.

“The Prevention of Terrorism Act is clear and unambiguous. Orchestrating violence, endangering life, creating serious risk to public health or safety, causing serious damage to property, using firearms or explosives, and interfering with essential services are all terrorist acts,” CS Murkomen asserted.