128 killings, 83 disappearances: Amnesty report reveals Gov’t used tech to suppress Gen Z protests

A new Amnesty International report accuses the Kenyan government of using technology to suppress protesters during the 2024–2025 Gen Z protests.

The report documents 128 killings, 83 enforced disappearances, and over 3,000 arbitrary arrests linked to the demonstrations against the Finance Bill.

Amnesty International says authorities deployed online harassment, disinformation, and unlawful surveillance to silence vocal youth.

Amnesty also raises serious concerns over state surveillance, citing allegations that security agencies accessed phone data and location records — often without court orders.

The report further accuses platform X of failing to curb coordinated hate and disinformation campaigns that targeted activists.

“Online harassment and smear campaigns became the core tools of the states to undermine the credibility of the government critics… some of these tactics facilitated and were later used in killings and enforced disappearances,” said Amnesty International Head of Programmes Victor Odede.

Amnesty International Executive Director Irungu Houghton added, “Massive intrusion of surveillance has taken place over the last one year… many of the cases we have discussed are related to serious crimes related to deaths, enforced disappearance.”