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State rattled as Kenyans condemn critics abductions

Gen Z protests in Nairobi in June, 2024. PHOTO/ Amnesty International.

By ABDULHAKIM SHERMAN

newshub@eyewitness.africa

Once upon a time in Kenya, street protests were the chosen battleground where youth faced off with riot police, tear gas, and the occasional unscheduled “holiday” in the back of a police van.

But now, Kenya’s Generation Z has found a more “efficient” way to disrupt the powers that be—by trading in their placards for hashtags, cartons, and their barricades for memes.

Hassan Joho, the Mining Cabinet Secretary and unintentional spokesman for government paranoia, revealed the government’s deepest concern: that the youth have moved their activism from the streets to the boundless, no-rules world of social media.

Apparently, Gen Z isn’t just protesting; they’re deploying “social media guerrilla warfare”—a term that sounds far more dramatic than posting angry tweets from a café in the Nairobi CBD.

According to Joho, these young revolutionaries are disrupting government programs with nothing but viral hashtags, memes, cartoons, podcasts, infographics, and the occasional TikTok dance. No tear gas required.

These developments comes as the East African Cartoonists’ Society (KATUNI) condemned the abduction of Kenyan cartoonist Gideon Kibet, also known as Kibet Bull, and his brother Ronnie Kibet.

In a press statement, KATUNI through its chairman James Kamawira described the incident as “barbaric, retrogressive, and unlawful,” linking it to a series of abductions targeting young social media users.

The two brothers reportedly went missing on Christmas Eve 2024, following a meeting with Busia Senator, Okiya Omtata, in Nairobi.

The Cartoonists’ Society also raised concerns about the whereabouts of other victims including Billy Mwangi, Peter Muteti, and Bernard Kavuli, whom KATUNI claims are being kidnapped to suppress free speech and intimidate Kenyans.

KATUNI criticized the National Police Service’s denial of involvement in these abductions, labeling their statement as weak and non-credible.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah with cartoonist Gedion Kibet AKA Kibet Bull. Before his abduction. PHOTO/UGC.

The shift from street protests to digital warfare wasn’t just a sudden preference for better Wi-Fi. It’s a survival strategy, as protesting in the streets during Kenya’s police crackdowns can lead to more than just bruised egos.

The youth realized they could agitate against corruption, human rights abuses, and poor governance without risking a date with an extrajudicial execution. The new protest is one that clicks, taps, and swipes—but still packs a punch.

Take Joho’s comments at the launch of Devki Group’s KSh 11 billion Iron Ore Pelletization Plant, for example. Joho, not exactly known for his tact, took aim at social media users who dared to criticize President Ruto, threatening to bring “equal trouble” to the bloggers.

In a world where a Twitter rant can be more effective than a marching army, Joho’s bravado rings as hollow as the promises of government accountability. Apparently, the only way to fight digital protesters is with more digital threats, right?

President Ruto, meanwhile, took the high road by calling for greater “patriotism” after the government pulled out of two major deals with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.

This decision followed a wave of social media outcry over fraud accusations, because nothing screams “integrity” like reneging on shady deals after being publicly dragged online.

To Ruto, the solution isn’t addressing the youth’s concerns but rather demanding more “patriotism”—which sounds suspiciously like the old “shut up and respect authority” routine, just with a fancier coat of paint.

The government has apparently been taking notes from 1984, acquiring spyware and propaganda tools to counter the growing online activism.

But here’s the thing: Gen Z isn’t impressed. They’ve turned digital protest into an art form, posting in real-time from the frontlines of their own living rooms, armed with nothing but Wi-Fi and a few viral hashtags.

Their favorite platforms? TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, which serve as modern-day equivalent of town squares—only with more influencers and fewer speeches about freedom.

The Gen Z demonstrations to oppose the 2024 Taxation Bill were countrywide. PHOTO/AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. 

Despite government efforts to “nip this problem in the bud” (read: spying, harassment, and not-so-discreet threats), Gen Z has become adept at online dodges.

Tools like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypted messaging apps, and even old-school walkie-talkie apps like Zello are now in play, making sure the government’s digital surveillance doesn’t catch them sleeping. These tech-savvy activists are so far ahead of the curve that even Big Brother might need an update.

Meanwhile, international observers like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have jumped on the #FreeKenya bandwagon, issuing statements condemning police brutality, human rights violations, and the government’s blatant disregard for basic freedoms.

Apparently, when your own youth are TikTok-ing their way to freedom, the world starts to take notice. As one can imagine, such external scrutiny is the last thing a government hoping to remain in control wants.

But let’s not get too caught up in the idealism. While Gen Z’s online activism continues to gain steam, the government’s response is equally modern: the tried-and-tested method of using government-funded bloggers to flood the internet with their own narrative.

These “influencers,” who have mastered the art of online misinformation, are often dispatched to drown out the noise coming from #JusticeForTheYouth and #EndPoliceBrutality. In a digital world where likes, shares, and retweets are the new form of protest, the government is playing catch-up.

The takeaway from all of this is simple: Kenya’s Gen Z is rewriting the rulebook on political engagement. They’ve traded in physical resistance for a more efficient, viral form of activism that leaves the government scrambling to plug holes in its crumbling narrative.

This isn’t just about fighting for better policies—it’s about redefining how power is contested in the age of data, AI, and social media.

But while some may argue that the government’s surveillance is only a minor inconvenience to this new breed of protestor, one thing is clear: the real battle is not on the streets anymore. It’s happening in the cloud. And it’s a war of memes, hashtags, and digital storytelling.

So, in the grand tradition of political change, Kenya’s youth have moved from fighting in the streets to fighting in the Wi-Fi-enabled trenches.

And while the government may try to suppress their message, it might want to remember this: The only thing more viral than a protest is the truth on Twitter.

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