{"id":103955,"date":"2025-11-19T16:06:29","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=103955"},"modified":"2025-11-19T16:06:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T16:06:29","slug":"kenyan-authorities-paid-trolls-to-threaten-gen-z-protesters-amnesty-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=103955","title":{"rendered":"Kenyan authorities paid trolls to threaten Gen Z protesters, Amnesty says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 21 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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The Kenyan authorities paid a network of trolls to threaten and intimidate young protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, Amnesty International has said.<\/p>\n

A new report by the human rights organisation said government agencies also employed surveillance and disinformation to target organisers of the mass protests, which swept Kenya across 2024 and 2025.<\/p>\n

The demonstrations were driven largely by \u201cGen Z\u201d activists who used social media platforms to mobilise.<\/p>\n

In response to Amnesty\u2019s report, Kenya\u2019s interior minister said the government \u201cdoes not sanction harassment or violence against any citizen\u201d.<\/p>\n

But Amnesty said it had uncovered a campaign to \u201csilence and suppress\u201d the protesters.<\/p>\n

Young women and LGBT+ activists were disproportionately targeted, with misogynistic and homophobic comment, as well as AI-generated pornographic images, the report said.<\/p>\n

The BBC has approached the government for further comment.<\/p>\n

One activist told Amnesty: \u201cI had people coming into my inbox and telling me: \u2018You will die and leave your kids. We will come and attack you\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI even had to change my child\u2019s school. Someone sent me my child\u2019s name, the age\u2026 the school bus number plate. They told me: \u2018If you continue doing what you\u2019re doing then we will take care of this child for you\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report features a man who said he was part of a team paid between 25,000 and 50,000 Kenyan shillings (about $190-$390; \u00a3145-\u00a3300) per day to amplify government messaging and drown out trending protest hashtags on social media platform X.<\/p>\n

As well as digital abuse, the authorities have also been accused of carrying out a brutal crackdown on the protests.<\/p>\n

More than 100 people died, rights groups say, when police clashed with protesters during two waves of demonstrations \u2013 one in 2024 and one in 2025.<\/p>\n

The authorities were also accused of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and using lethal force against the protesters.<\/p>\n

The government accepted there had been some case of excessive force by police, but\u00a0also defended the security forces in other instances.<\/p>\n

The demonstrations railed against issues such as proposed tax rises, increasing femicide and corruption.<\/p>\n

Amnesty chief Agn\u00e8s Callamard said the organisation\u2019s report \u201cclearly demonstrates widespread and coordinated tactics on digital platforms to silence and suppress protests by young activists\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur research also proves that these campaigns are driven by state-sponsored trolls, individuals and networks paid to promote pro-government messages and dominate Kenya\u2019s daily trends on X,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

Kenya\u2019s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said: \u201cThe government of Kenya does not sanction harassment, or violence against any citizen\u2026 any officer implicated in unlawful conduct bears individual responsibility and is subject to investigation and sanction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amnesty also raised concerns about unlawful state surveillance, including allegations \u2013 denied by Kenya\u2019s largest telecom provider, Safaricom \u2013 that authorities used mobile data to monitor protest leaders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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