Focus on Africa Did Kenyan authorities use technology to silence Gen Z protestors?
Nov 19, 2025
Victor Ndede, a human rights researcher at Amnesty Kenya, uncovers how the Kenyan government allegedly used digital tools to silence Gen Z protestors. He reveals tactics like internet shutdowns, disinformation campaigns, and AI-generated harassment aimed at female activists. Rama Salah Diang, a political scientist, analyzes the tense rift between Senegal's President Faye and Prime Minister Sonko, discussing its implications for the 2029 elections. Khadija Abdullahi, a primary school teacher, reflects on Nigeria's controversial shift from mother-tongue teaching back to English and its classroom impact.
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Digital Attacks Fueled Real-World Repression
- Amnesty International links online harassment to offline abuses including arrests, disappearances and deaths during Kenya's Gen Z protests.
- Victor Ndede highlights that digital assaults amplified real-world repression and did not occur in isolation.
Paid Troll Farms Targeted Activists
- Amnesty found paid troll teams were hired to hijack hashtags and attack critics during protests.
- Victor Ndede reports operators earned between $190 and $390 per day for coordinated online attacks.
Fourfold State Digital Repression
- Amnesty documents four state tactics: paid online harassment, disinformation, internet disruption and surveillance linked to telecoms.
- Victor Ndede says these tools were used together to silence and intimidate activists.