As a student and a young person concerned about violence among young people, I am deeply concerned by allegations that a female student was assaulted by another female student in a club washroom. Violence, intimidation, and humiliation have no place in our society whether on campus, online, or in social spaces frequented by young people.…
This month, Kenyans learnt from technology company Anthropic that unidentified actors had been using artificial intelligence to create the appearance of grassroots political support ahead of the 2027 election. In its September 2026 misuse report, Anthropic says a pro-government operator used its Claude models to prepare fake grassroots social media posts ahead of the country’s…
📅 Date: Friday, 25th September 2026 🕠 Time: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM (EAT) 🌐 Livestreamed Online About the session As Kenya’s media and information landscape becomes increasingly digital, the intersection between data protection, media practice, and elections is becoming more important than ever. Journalists, media houses, regulators, civil society organizations, and digital platforms all play a…
A true story is told of teachers at a primary school in Kilifi County who noticed something strange about one of their pupils. Whenever the girl began showing signs of pregnancy, she would stop coming to school. Weeks later, she would return, and the pregnancy would no longer be visible. Her grades suffered, her attendance…
This comparison with Haiti is not a prediction that Kenya will follow the same path. Kenya has its own history, institutions and political realities. But Haiti offers a sobering lesson about the consequences of institutionalising political violence. In 1959, Haitian dictator François “Papa Doc” Duvalier established a force that became known as the Tonton Macoute.…
There has been simmering tension among foreign nationals living and operating small businesses in Kenya following a Presidential directive on 2 September 2026, ordering foreign nationals operating small businesses, particularly hawking and small retail shops, to close their operations from 7 September 2026. The announcement has raised serious questions about the rights of thousands of…
Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act was passed in 2006, when smartphones were not yet in most Kenyan pockets, and generative AI did not exist. Twenty years on, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to bring the Act up to date with how technology is increasingly used to facilitate sexual and gender-based violence: through a phone,…
On 26 June 2024, Joshua Okayo was taken from outside his home. He was a student leader and a vocal protest organizer on X and TikTok. His abductors forced him into a car, blindfolded him and held him for two days at an unknown location. They repeatedly questioned him about the protests and who was…
Kenyans often encounter political promises centered on roads, water, health facilities, and other essential public services. However, whether these promises are delivered is ultimately determined through budgeting and equitable resource allocation. Early this year, residents of Marsabit demanded clean water, passable roads, and a well-equipped and functional health facility. Last year, residents of Kilifi staged…
Law enforcement in Kenya has a constitutional and public service mandate to protect people, maintain public order and enforce the law in a manner consistent with human rights. Over the years, law enforcement institutions have come under intense public, judicial, constitutional and human-rights scrutiny. As Kenya marks 16 years since the promulgation of the…
A voice is a fragile thing in the digital age. It can rise in seconds, clear, bold, and determined, and be drowned out just as quickly by waves of insult, distortion, and threat. For many young Kenyans, this is not a distant reality; it is a daily calculation. Should I post this? Is it worth…