A new Amnesty International report has revealed fresh claims that the Kenyan government ran a coordinated online operation aimed at intimidating, tracking and silencing thousands of Gen Z protesters who took part in nationwide demonstrations between June 2024 and July 2025.
The report, titled “This fear, everyone is feeling it”: Tech-facilitated violence against young activists in Kenya, paints a troubling picture of how authorities allegedly used different social media platforms to suppress voices of dissent, especially those from outspoken young activists and protesters challenging government actions.
According to Amnesty International, both state agencies and digital networks linked to government supporters are accused of weaponising social media spaces to shut down criticism and weaken the growing protest movement.
The report describes these tactics as a form of “technology-facilitated violence”, a strategy that was mainly executed on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), TikTok and Instagram.
State-Backed Trolling and Threats
The investigation found that these platforms were heavily flooded with state-backed trolling, coordinated smear campaigns, abusive messages, targeted threats and deliberate spread of false information.
These actions were reportedly designed to silence young people, especially those who were leading online conversations about governance, accountability and human rights.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, said the organisation’s analysis clearly showed a widespread and well-planned strategy aimed at suppressing protests through digital manipulation and intimidation.
Trolls Used to Boost Pro-Government Narratives
Amnesty’s findings suggest the presence of structured digital teams, commonly described as “state-sponsored trolls,” who allegedly worked to promote pro-government narratives while discrediting activists.
The overall aim, according to the report, was to overwhelm social media timelines with favourable government messaging, pushing protest-related content out of visibility.
By constantly posting pro-government messages and counter-hashtags, these troll networks reportedly hijacked trending algorithms and buried content linked to the Gen Z movement.
Popular protest hashtags such as #Occupy and others used during the demonstrations were pushed down as coordinated messaging took over.
Social Media Used as a Tool of Repression
During the peak of the Gen Z protests in June 2024, demonstrations were spreading rapidly across the country. In response, the report claims that the state adopted a new tactic of “fighting fire with fire”, launching its own counter-campaigns online.
Social media, instead of serving as a tool for expression, allegedly became a powerful instrument for repression.
The report further states that the intimidation went beyond online harassment. Authorities are accused of deploying threats, digital surveillance and coordinated intimidation to weaken the protesters’ freedom of expression and assembly.
Harassment Linked to Real-World Harm
Amnesty’s report highlights that online harassment often led to real-life consequences. Several young activists told investigators that they received chilling messages such as “We are coming for you”, warnings that were reportedly followed by physical intimidation and, in some cases, enforced disappearances.
Many activists described facing large groups of bloggers—allegedly linked to the government—who would organise targeted attacks aimed at shaming, discrediting and silencing them. These online campaigns often included insults, misinformation and attempts to ruin their reputations.
One of the most striking examples in the report is that of human rights defender Hanifa Adan, who was subjected to doxxing, body shaming and severe online abuse.
She described the experience as deeply traumatizing, saying it robbed her of her confidence and sense of self: “It took away the spark, the joy. It took away who I was.”
Amnesty Calls for Government Action
In conclusion, Amnesty International urged the Kenyan government to take immediate action by investigating cases of technology-facilitated violence, online intimidation and the reported enforced disappearances of young activists.
The organisation emphasized the need for accountability to prevent further abuse and to protect citizens’ constitutional rights to free speech, peaceful assembly and democratic participation.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
