A new report on the State of Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya shows an increase in the number of deaths, abductions and arrests of bloggers and activists in Kenya in 2024.
The report titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019 – 2024) which has been produced by Paradigm Initiative, Bloggers Association of Kenya and Article 19 Eastern Africa has mapped violations covering the period between 2019 and 2024.
It indicates that the safety and security of bloggers in Kenya remain precarious, with the majority of the challenges arising from legal, political and technological threats.
As much as legal platforms have expanded the space for free expression, bloggers face increasing risks, including harassment, surveillance, arbitrary arrests and cyber threats, the report adds.
Speaking during the launch of the report, ‘Gbenga Sesan, executive director of Paradigm Initiative, pointed out that governments are increasingly investing in surveillance equipment and legalising illegal activities, with some of them investing in spyware to monitor journalists.
“Mass surveillance should be illegal without legal frameworks to guide and make sure nothing goes wrong. But many governments are beginning to use existing laws around terrorism, and cybercrime, to then make legal what should not be legal and that is a challenge because what that does is that in many countries where some of your colleagues work we have had scenarios where governments have invested in spyware to monitor journalists and impede the work that they do,” he told reporters at a Media Briefing in Naivasha, Kenya.
On his part, James Wamathai, partnerships and advocacy manager, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) said:
“We are asking to be protected. The same human rights should be protected and preserved online. If one class of society is not safe, no one is safe. The safety and security of bloggers is something everyone should care about.”
Demas Kiprono, deputy director, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Kenya chapter, said the report indicates the democratic space has moved online where Kenyans are engaging government and people in power online and this has come with inherent risks.
“This is a trend that has been happening and what we see is a need to safeguard the place, review laws and sensitise Kenyans on their rights. As civil society, we will continue to push for these reforms through litigation and advocacy to ensure the democratic space is protected. There needs to be an understanding that these rights enable a person to have their dignity. When you speak about what is happening to you and government progammes that don’t work, you should not be victimised,” Kiprono added.
Angela Minayo, Programmes Officer, Article 19 Eastern Africa said: “The relevance of our work has never been more relevant in Kenya. We have seen a shift in the respect for human rights, and intolerance to criticisms and this has found its way to the county governments.”
“Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act is the law of choice. We have problematic sections in that law. Beyond offences of the act, we should be concerned with the investigative process. Government agencies have so many investigative powers. We are also concerned about the composition of the NC4 (National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee). The amendment bill seeks to empower NC4, giving them an additional role to block websites found to be conducting illegal activities. Let us be on the lookout for the act and amendments to the Act. We are also asking the Court of Appeal to prioritise the case which is currently in court,” she said.
The report indicates that enforcing laws such as the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act has raised concerns about the criminalisation of online speech, limiting press freedom and discouraging critical discourse.
“The use of arrests, legal intimidation, digital surveillance and even enforced disappearances demonstrates a pattern of suppression targeting those who challenge authority,” it states.
This, the report further states, is despite constitutional guarantees of free expression and important court rulings that have struck down overly broad laws.
According to the report, bloggers have continued to face arbitrary enforcement of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, as well as other legal and extralegal threats.
The report recommends collaboration between civil society, media organisations, and policymakers to foster a safer online environment. It adds that addressing these is essential in ensuring that Kenya upholds its commitment to freedom of expression and the protection of digital rights in the evolving online landscape.
‘Gbenga also announced that PIN will soon be launching two key publications. Londa Report, which documents the state of digital rights and inclusion, will be released on April 30th, 2025. The report contains a new scoring system rating countries based on what they have done.
Miriam Beatrice Wanjiru, PIN’s Programmes Officer, East Africa said the report examines 27 African countries.
Among key findings in Kenya is that for the first time in the country’s history, Kenya faced an internet shutdown in 2024.
The report also spotlights Arbitrary arrests on the basis of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
She noted that Kenya also witnessed the highest number of people detained, arrested and killed while media houses were threatened not to cover the Genz protests in June 2024.
“If patterns are to go by, we need to brace ourselves and be ready ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” she added.
Another publication set to be released is the PIN book which documents the organisation’s journey from a tiny cybercafe in Ajegunle, Nigeria, to a pan-African non-profit organisation with a presence in six African countries- Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
