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Kenya Accused of Funding Troll Networks to Target Anti-Government Protesters
Kenyan authorities paid online trolls to harass, threaten, and intimidate young protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, according to a new Amnesty International report released Wednesday. The human rights group also documented state-sponsored surveillance and disinformation campaigns aimed at silencing activists who organized mass protests in 2024 and 2025.
Gen Z-Led Protests Met with Digital and Physical Repression
The demonstrations, largely mobilized by Generation Z activists through social media, faced a two-pronged crackdown: online abuse and physical violence. Amnesty's investigation found that young women and LGBT+ activists were disproportionately targeted with misogynistic slurs, homophobic attacks, and AI-generated pornographic content designed to humiliate and deter them.
One activist told researchers they received death threats, including details about their child's school and bus license plate. "They said, 'If you continue, we'll take care of this child for you,'" the activist recounted, forcing them to change their child's school for safety.
State-Sponsored 'Keyboard Warriors' Paid to Drown Out Dissent
Amnesty's report includes testimony from a man claiming he was part of a government-funded team paid 25,000-50,000 Kenyan shillings ($190-$390; £145-£300) daily to amplify pro-government messages and suppress protest-related hashtags on X (formerly Twitter). The group interviewed 31 young human rights defenders, nine of whom reported violent threats via X, TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp.
Long-standing allegations suggest Kenya employs so-called "keyboard warriors" to shape online narratives. The report alleges these networks were deployed to dominate digital discourse, drowning out dissent with coordinated pro-government content.
Deadly Crackdown and Allegations of Unlawful Surveillance
Beyond digital repression, the protests-sparked by issues like proposed tax hikes, rising femicide rates, and corruption-faced brutal physical suppression. Rights groups estimate over 100 deaths across two waves of demonstrations in 2024 and 2025, with police accused of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and lethal force.
While authorities acknowledged "some cases of excessive force," they defended security forces' actions in other instances. Amnesty also raised concerns about unlawful state surveillance, including claims-denied by telecom giant Safaricom-that mobile data was used to track protest leaders.
Government Denies Sanctioning Harassment
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen rejected Amnesty's findings, stating: "The government of Kenya does not sanction harassment or violence against any citizen. Any officer implicated in unlawful conduct bears individual responsibility and is subject to investigation." The BBC has sought further comment from Kenyan officials.
Amnesty's Secretary-General Agnès Callamard condemned the tactics as "widespread and coordinated" efforts to "silence and suppress protests by young activists" through state-backed digital campaigns. The report urges accountability for both online and offline abuses.
Key Context: Why the Protests?
The demonstrations erupted amid public anger over economic hardship, gender-based violence, and systemic corruption. Activists leveraged platforms like X and TikTok to organize, making them prime targets for both digital and physical repression. The government's response-combining paid trolls, surveillance, and lethal force-highlights what Amnesty calls a "chilling escalation in state-led repression."
