A new report on the State of Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya has revealed a disturbing rise in the number of deaths, abductions and arrests of bloggers and activists in Kenya in 2024.
The report titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019 – 2024) disclosed that five bloggers have been killed between 2023 and 2024 with two more having been killed in 2021 and 2022.
The report has mapped violations over a period of six years, from 2019 to 2024. At the same time, at least 15 bloggers were abducted or arrested with three more facing other violations.
According to the report, the safety and security of bloggers in Kenya remain precarious, with the majority of the challenges arising from legal, political and technological threats.
The report states that as much as legal platforms have expanded the space for free expression, bloggers face increasing risks, including harassment, surveillance, arbitrary arrests and cyber threats.
“Blogging in Kenya has evolved from personal online journals to a critical platform for news, activism, and public discourse. However, this transformation has exposed bloggers to significant threats, both physical and digital,” the report read in parts.
Report Exposes Rising Threats to Kenyan Bloggers
A survey of bloggers and civil society members found that all respondents had encountered security threats, with 58.3% rating their safety as “very unsafe”.
“Bloggers face harassment, abduction, and even murder, particularly when criticizing authorities or influential figures. Digital threats, including surveillance, hacking, and online harassment, are exacerbated by vague cybercrime laws,” the report noted.
The report added that legal challenges, particularly under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, further restrict freedom of expression, creating a chilling effect that leads to self-censorship.
When respondents were asked how they would rate the current level of safety for bloggers in Kenya, 58.3% stated it is very unsafe, 33.3% felt it is somewhat unsafe while the remaining minority (8.4%) felt it was neutral.
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Many Arrests and Deaths Occurred During Gen Z Protests
When requested to answer whether any blogger they know has faced security threats (physical or digital) due to blogging activities in the last five years, all respondents responded “yes”.
“The respondents listed physical violence, online harassment/cyber-attacks/cyberbullying, threats of arrest or legal action, abduction, enforced disappearance, surveillance, and murder,” the report read further.
The report further disclosed that many cases of arrests and intimidations against Kenyans online have been recorded in the country since the Gen Z protests of June 25, 2024.
Speaking during the launch of the report, Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, pointed out that many governments are beginning to legalize illegal activities, with some of them investing in spyware to monitor journalists
He added that mass surveillance should be illegal without legal frameworks to guide and make sure nothing goes wrong.
“Many governments are beginning to use existing laws around terrorism, and cybercrime, to then make legal what should not be legal and that is a challenge because what that does is that in many countries where some of your colleagues work we have had scenarios where governments have invested in spyware to monitor journalists and impede the work that they do,” he said.
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BAKE Calls for Protection and Recognition of Bloggers
On his part, James Wamathai, Partnerships and Advocacy Manager, Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) said bloggers should be protected and the same human rights should be protected and preserved online.
“If one class of society is not safe, no one is safe. The safety and security of bloggers is something everyone should care about,” he stated.
Demas Kiprono, Deputy Director, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Kenya chapter, said the report showcases democratic space has moved online where Kenyans are engaging government and people in power online, and this had come with inherent risks.
“This is a trend that has been happening and what we see is a need to safeguard the place, review laws, sensitize Kenyans on their rights. As civil society, we will continue to push for these reforms through litigation and advocacy to ensure democratic space is protected,” Kiprono said.
“There needs to be an understanding these rights enable a person to have their dignity. When you speak about what is happening to you and government progammes that don’t work, you should not be victimized.”
The report called for recognition of Kenyan bloggers as a special group requiring legal and constitutional protections due to their vital role in promoting free speech, transparency, and democratic accountability.
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