Kenyan Authorities Paid Trolls to Threaten Gen Z Protesters, Amnesty Says

Kenyan authorities paid an organised network of online trolls to threaten and intimidate young protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, Amnesty International has alleged.

In a new report, the human rights organisation said government agencies also deployed surveillance tactics and disinformation campaigns targeting the organisers of mass protests that swept across Kenya in 2024 and 2025. The demonstrations were largely driven by “Gen Z” activists who relied heavily on social media platforms to mobilise nationwide.

In response to the report, Kenya’s Interior Minister insisted that the government “does not sanction harassment or violence against any citizen.”
However, Amnesty says it uncovered a systematic campaign aimed at silencing and suppressing the protesters.

According to the report, young women and LGBT activists were disproportionately targeted, facing misogynistic and homophobic comments, as well as AI-generated pornographic images.

One activist interviewed said:
“I had people coming into my inbox telling me, ‘You will die and leave your kids. We will come and attack you.’
I even had to change my child’s school… They sent me my child’s name, age, the school bus number plate, and said: ‘If you continue doing what you’re doing, we will take care of this child for you.’”

For years, it has been widely believed that the government employs individuals known as “keyboard warriors” to push state narratives online. Amnesty’s report includes testimony from a man who said he was part of a team paid 25,000 to 50,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately $190–$390) per day to amplify government messaging and drown out trending protest hashtags on social media platform X.

Amnesty spoke to 31 young human rights defenders involved in the protests. Nine reported receiving violent threats on X, TikTok, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Beyond digital harassment, authorities have also been accused of a brutal physical crackdown on the demonstrations. Rights groups say more than 100 people died during two waves of protests—in 2024 and 2025—after clashes between police and demonstrators.

The authorities have additionally faced accusations of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and the use of lethal force. While the government acknowledged some instances of excessive police force, it also defended the security agencies in other cases.

???? Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today. https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
???? Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
? Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q

The post Kenyan Authorities Paid Trolls to Threaten Gen Z Protesters, Amnesty Says appeared first on Ghanaian Times.

Read Full Story