Privacy First Campaign

Deadline: Friday, 06th February 2026

Time: 11:59 PM

Are you passionate about safeguarding privacy and digital rights amid rapid digital transformation? Do you want to drive meaningful change in your community and country? Join Privacy First, an initiative by Amnesty International Kenya, and become an advocate for digital rights across Kenya!

Privacy First is a youth-led digital rights and data protection campaign implemented by Amnesty International Kenya. The initiative is anchored in the recognition that young people—particularly university students- are among the most active users of digital technologies, yet remain disproportionately exposed to risks related to surveillance, misuse of personal data, and violations of privacy.

Following the successful implementation of the inaugural Privacy First cohort (2025), Amnesty International Kenya is establishing the second cohort of 6 Privacy First Digital Rights Campaigners for 2026. This cohort builds on the foundations, lessons, and momentum of the first cohort, while strengthening continuity, peer mentorship, and sustained advocacy for privacy and digital rights across Kenyan universities.

The second cohort will continue to respond to Kenya’s evolving digital landscape, including concerns around digital identification systems, online surveillance, data governance, and shrinking civic space, while centering youth voices in national and campus-level digital rights discourse.

What You’ll Gain
As a Privacy First campaigner, you will:

Expert Knowledge: Gain in-depth training on topics like data privacy, digital rights, online surveillance, and Kenya’s data protection laws, helping you understand the landscape of privacy rights.

Advocacy Skills: You get to lead your own campaign, with support from Amnesty International Kenya. Learn effective advocacy techniques, both online and offline, that you can use to lead digital rights campaigns.

Networking & Mentorship: Benefit from ongoing mentorship and guidance from digital rights experts at Amnesty International. You’ll also connect with other young advocates to exchange ideas and collaborate on impactful initiatives.

Access to Resources: Receive campaign toolkits, digital campaign strategies, and other materials that will help you build, launch, and sustain successful digital privacy campaigns in your university.

Leadership Opportunities: Build a legacy on your campus by leading campaigns that promote privacy rights. You’ll also have the chance to showcase your work during key Amnesty events, such as the Global Youth Digital Rights Summit.

Certificates of Recognition: You’ll each be awarded certificates of participation recognizing the work you have put into creating your own digital rights campaigns.

NB: Privacy First Campaign is completely voluntary. However, reasonable costs related to participation in physical meetings, meals, and refreshments. Modest internet costs for virtual meetings will be reimbursed.

Eligibility Requirements

We are looking for passionate and committed university students who meet the following criteria:

You are currently enrolled at a university in the Nyanza Region (Siaya County, Kisumu County, Homa Bay County, Migori County, Kisii County, Nyamira County). You should be available for a 5-day in-person training in February 2026. (You should be enrolled in a university until 2026)

You are passionate about digital rights, privacy, and data protection.

You are willing and able to commit time and effort to the campaign from March 2025 to January 2026, including attending training sessions, developing campaigns, and leading on-campus and digital rights advocacy activities. Campaign training and development commences on 23^rd February 2026.

You have a desire to learn, grow, and take initiative in leading advocacy efforts.

Previous experience in advocacy or campaign activities is a plus but not required. Your passion and willingness to engage are the most important factors!

Be under the age of 25 during the Privacy First Campaign at the commencement of the program.

We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and the participation of marginalized groups. To ensure the campaign reflects Kenya’s rich socio-cultural diversity, applications are open to all students, regardless of background or discipline.

NB: This workshop will be conducted in English, as the official language. criteria:

What Will You Do?
As part of the Privacy First team, you will:

Participate in funded in-person training workshops: Selected campaigners will join an intensive 5-day workshop from 23^rd to 27^th February in Kisumu, where you’ll be introduced to data privacy, surveillance issues, data protection laws in Kenya, advocacy strategies, and campaign development. This will be your foundation for building your own campaign.

Lead local campaigns: After the workshop, you will work at your university or in your community to develop and lead locally relevant campaigns on digital rights violations affecting young people in Kenya. This could include social media campaigns, digital petitions, in-person workshops, or university events to raise awareness of digital rights issues.

Collaborate and Innovate: You’ll have the flexibility to design campaigns that resonate with your peers, whether through creating digital content and using digitally disruptive approaches to reach students on your campus.

Receive Ongoing Mentorship: Throughout the campaign, Amnesty International Kenya will provide mentorship by pairing you with an Amnesty International Kenya staff member to help you shape your campaign and ensure your initiatives are impactful and sustainable.

Amplify Your Impact: Your work will contribute to a larger national movement for digital rights. You’ll have the opportunity to engage with policymakers, shape public opinion, and contribute to a broader conversation about the future of digital rights in Kenya.

Commitment Requirements:

As part of the Privacy First network, campaigners will be expected to commit to the following:

Attend Monthly Meetings: Participate in regular (monthly) online 2- hour meetings with other student advocates to discuss campaign progress, share updates, and plan upcoming activities. Provide regular updates to other student leaders and university administrators about the campaign’s activities. This will also include reporting back to Amnesty International Kenya on key outcomes from university-based campaigns. A digital footprint of your campaign will also be required.

Dedicate Time to Projects: Allocate 10-12 hours per month (2-3 hours per week) to their digital rights campaigns, including campaign planning, event coordination, content creation, and peer engagement.

Engage Peers in Key Discussions: Actively gather inputs and feedback from fellow students and university staff on digital rights issues to inform campaign strategies.

Mentorship and Support: Experienced campaigners will be responsible for mentoring new recruits, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity in the campaign’s advocacy work.

By participating in Privacy First, campaigners will gain valuable leadership experience, develop advocacy skills, and contribute to a national movement for digital rights. This commitment ensures that the campaign remains vibrant and continues to grow, even as campaigners graduate and new ones join.

How to Apply

To become a Privacy First campaigner, submit your application through this link. The application will include:

A brief statement explaining your passion for digital privacy and why you want to be part of this campaign, and Initial ideas for how you would engage fellow students in digital rights advocacy at your university.

The application process is designed to assess your passion for privacy rights, willingness to commit, and vision for how you would champion this cause.

What’s Next?
This is your chance to become a pioneer for digital rights and privacy protection in Kenya!

Join us as we shape the future of digital rights, one university at a time. Take the first step towards becoming a privacy champion by applying today.

For inquiries and further information, email us at: [email protected]

Empower yourself, protect your data, and lead the charge for digital rights across Kenya!

Apply now and be part of the Privacy First movement!