Overview
As we close another eventful period, this edition of the Amnesty Kenya Gazette brings together stories of courage, resilience, and collective action. From the safe return of activists abducted abroad, to the recognition of human rights defenders and civic tech innovators, to critical conversations on digital rights, justice, and equality, this edition highlights how Kenyans are shaping a society that respects dignity, upholds freedoms, and defends human rights. We also celebrate cultural expressions that inspire reflection, healing, and imagination for a just future. Through these stories, we underscore the power of solidarity, advocacy, and youth-led action in advancing human rights across Kenya and the region.
In this issue
- The Return of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo
- Celebrating Rose Njeri’s Digital Courage
- A New Chapter for Human Rights Leadership
- Five Years On, Strengthening Kenya’s Digital Rights and Privacy Protections
- Honouring Raila Amolo Odinga
- Pursuing Justice and Equality Before the Law
- Young Kenyans Redefining the Online Space
- Celebrating Culture, Courage, and Collective Imagination
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EPISODE 2 OF RIGHTOUS MADNESS
Same Script, Different Cast
The Return of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo
We kicked off September with the launch of Amnesty Kenya Kikao, hybrid, human rights-centered dialogues designed to bring together ordinary citizens, subject area experts, and government representatives to reflect on emerging human rights issues, debate, and collectively chart the way forward. The inaugural Kikao, themed: Does Class Matter in the Way the State Polices Protests? A Reflection on this Year’s Saba Saba brought together an engaging panel featuring Dr. Barrack Muluka, Publishing Editor and Communications Consultant; Wangui Wanjora, Convener of the Ngong Social Justice Centre; and Dr. Mutuma Ruteere, Director of the National Crime Research Centre. The discussion was moderated by Renee Ngamau, Speaker and life and business strategies coach. Together, they unpacked the layers of class, power, and justice shaping policing in Kenya, especially following this year’s Saba Saba protests.
In response, Amnesty International Kenya, in partnership with the Law Society of Kenya, VOCAL Africa, and the Free Kenya Movement, mounted a rapid advocacy campaign demanding the activists’ safe return.
We wrote to Uganda’s Chargé d’Affaires, H.E. Amb. Eunice Kigenyi, held three press conferences, and issued four statements calling for the immediate disclosure of Bob and Nick’s whereabouts, access to legal counsel, and a full investigation into their abduction. On 21 October, we launched a global letter-writing campaign to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, delivering 500 letters urging his intervention. After 38 days of collective action and unwavering solidarity, Bob and Nick were finally released and reunited with their families. We extend our gratitude to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments, the immediate former President of Kenya, and all activists, journalists, diplomats, and citizens who refused to stay silent. Their return marks a victory for people power and a reminder that human rights know no borders. As we facilitate their transfer to Nairobi, we invite all supporters to join us in welcoming them home and in recommitting to a region where freedom, safety, and solidarity are not crimes, but rights.
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Celebrating Rose Njeri’s Digital Courage
From moments of struggle to stories of triumph, October also brought reason to celebrate. Amnesty International Kenya joined the world in congratulating Rose Njeri, a software developer and civic tech advocate, on her inclusion in the 2025 TIME100 Next Leaders list — a global recognition of emerging leaders shaping the future. Rose’s groundbreaking digital platform, which enabled Kenyans to comment on the 2025 Finance Bill, exemplified how technology can strengthen civic participation and uphold the right to be heard. Her unjust arrest, prosecution, and eventual judicial exoneration not only exposed the growing risks faced by digital activists in Kenya but also showcased her extraordinary resilience in the face of repression.
We celebrate Rose not only for her technical brilliance, but for her unwavering commitment to justice, transparency, and citizen empowerment. She stands as a beacon of hope for Kenya’s coding community, civic tech innovators, and gig economy workers who continue to champion open governance. Her recognition is a victory for every person who believes in a free, open, and participatory society, and for all who stood in solidarity with her during her incarceration in May 2025. We were proud to support Rose’s travel to New York to receive her award — a moment that reaffirms that when courage meets conviction, the world takes notice.
A New Chapter for Human Rights Leadership
In October, Amnesty International Kenya joined the nation in celebrating the appointment of Claris Ogangah as the fifth Chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Her approval by the National Assembly in September and formal appointment by President William Ruto on 2 October 2025 mark a significant milestone for Kenya’s human rights landscape. We celebrate this transition with optimism and a renewed sense of solidarity between our two institutions, whose shared mandate is to safeguard the dignity and freedoms of all people in Kenya.
In our 27 August affidavit supporting her nomination, we affirmed our belief that Claris embodies the independence, tact, and fairness required to lead KNCHR in line with its statutory mandate under Section 8 of the KNCHR Act, 2011. Her lifelong dedication to justice and integrity will be instrumental in navigating this critical moment for civic space and constitutionalism. We commend her public commitment before Parliament to protect the Commission’s independence and mandate from interference, and we echo her resolve to strengthen accountability and transparency in public institutions. We also extend our gratitude to Vice-Chairperson Raymond Nyeris, the Commissioners, and Staff for their steady leadership following the passing of our dear colleague and human rights defender, Roseline Odede. As we look ahead, Amnesty International Kenya reaffirms its readiness to collaborate with KNCHR in advancing inclusive governance, justice for victims of state overreach, and the protection of civil liberties. May Chairperson Ogangah’s tenure be marked by courage, compassion, and transformative impact.
Five Years On, Strengthening Kenya’s Digital Rights and Privacy Protections
In October, Amnesty International Kenya released two landmark resources aimed at deepening privacy rights and advancing accountability in Kenya’s digital landscape — the Five Years On: Citizens’ Perspectives on Kenya’s Data Protection Act Implementation study, and the Data Protection Guidelines for Civil Society Organizations, developed in partnership with the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya (DPGSK). Together, these resources provide a timely reflection on the state of data protection in Kenya and practical guidance for civil society actors navigating the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2019.
The Five Years On study, conducted across 10 counties through focus group discussions and key informant interviews, offers rare citizen-level insights into how Kenyans understand and experience their right to privacy. While the DPA 2019 established a strong legal foundation, the research reveals that low awareness, weak enforcement, and limited regional presence of the regulator continue to undermine its impact. Many Kenyans—especially in rural and marginalized communities—remain unaware of their data rights, making them highly vulnerable to data breaches, misuse, and digital exploitation. Few know how to report violations to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), and none of the study’s participants had done so.
To address these gaps, Amnesty Kenya and DPGSK developed the Data Protection Guidelines for Civil Society Organizations, a practical toolkit designed to help CSOs comply with the DPA while protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of the communities they serve. The report calls for urgent action through nationwide awareness campaigns, inclusive outreach to youth, persons with disabilities, and low-literacy populations, and the decentralization of the ODPC to strengthen local enforcement. It further recommends proactive investigations against major data handlers, multi-sectoral collaboration, and integration of data protection education in school curricula.
As Kenya marks five years since the enactment of its Data Protection Act, these findings remind us that privacy is not a privilege — it is a right. We call on the government, private sector, and civil society to work together in ensuring that every Kenyan, regardless of location or literacy, can safely and confidently exercise control over their personal data.
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5 YEARS ON: CITIZENS’ PERSPECTIVES ON KENYA’S DATA PROTECTION ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Five years after the enactment of the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2019, Amnesty International Kenya has published a landmark report assessing how Kenyans understand and experience their right to privacy.
Honouring Raila Amolo Odinga
Amnesty International Kenya joined the world in mourning the death of Raila Amolo Odinga, former Prime Minister of Kenya and a former Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience, who passed away in India at the age of 80 following a cardiac arrest. Detained without trial multiple times during the one-party era, Mr. Odinga was recognized by Amnesty in 1991 for his peaceful advocacy for multiparty democracy and constitutional reform. His lifelong commitment to justice, democracy, and human rights shaped Kenya’s political and social landscape — from his role in the country’s transition to multiparty democracy, to his leadership in the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution, and his efforts to unite the nation after the 2007–08 post-election violence. Amnesty International Kenya honours his legacy as a human rights defender whose courage, sacrifice, and vision continue to inspire generations. We extend our deepest condolences to Mama Ida Odinga, his family, and the people of Kenya.
Pursuing Justice and Equality Before the Law
In October, Amnesty International Kenya intensified its advocacy for justice and accountability in the face of grave human rights violations. We called for justice for a 17-year-old student in Narok, a survivor of horrific torture while in police custody. The child was reportedly beaten, chained, and had acid poured on his legs in an attempt to extract a confession — a shocking violation of Kenya’s Constitution, the Children’s Act, and international human rights law. We demanded an immediate, independent investigation, prosecution of all responsible officers, and protection for the victim and his family. Torture, in any form and under any circumstance, has no place in a just society.
October also brought a significant victory for the right to bail and equality before the law when a Makadara court reduced bail for seven individuals arrested during the #SabaSaba protests, who had been detained for 103 days since their arrests. The court lowered the bail amount from KES 100,000 to KES 30,000, affirming that access to justice should not depend on economic status. Together with the Law Society of Kenya and 50PlusMillionKE, we had called for fairer bail terms and for the courts to uphold the principle that bail is not a privilege, but a fundamental right guaranteed to all. As we continue to defend the dignity and rights of every person, we reaffirm that justice must protect the vulnerable, not punish them.
Young Kenyans Redefining the Online Space
On the digital rights front, young Kenyans are leading transformative campaigns to make the internet safer, fairer, and more accessible. In Nairobi, the Privacy First Campaigners launched Jua Terms, urging companies to simplify punitive online Terms and Conditions so users can truly understand what they are agreeing to before clicking “I agree.” Meanwhile, in Mombasa, the Scroll Bila Troll campaign tackles cyberbullying, responding to a survey showing that 78% of young people aged 18–25 have experienced or witnessed online harassment. Both campaigns aim to foster online spaces that are transparent, safe, and empowering.
Amnesty International Kenya also co-hosted a Data Governance Research Day at Strathmore University, alongside CIPIT and the Data Privacy and Governance Society of Kenya (DPGSK). The session explored how to harness data responsibly while protecting dignity and privacy, emphasizing the need for systems that serve not just efficiency and profit, but the public good. Scholars, regulators, practitioners, and advocates examined ways to ensure that data governance strengthens equity, accountability, and human rights in the digital age.
Finally, through the Digital Consent General Assembly, young people actively debated ethical consent, drafted youth resolutions, and proposed creative alternatives such as icon-based and layered privacy notices. Their work demonstrates that digital rights are not abstract concepts — they shape freedom, safety, and participation online. Kenya’s youth are already taking the lead, reimagining the digital world to be more inclusive, ethical, and human-centred.
Celebrating Culture, Courage, and Collective Imagination
This period was also one of celebration, reflection, and cultural engagement. Amnesty International Kenya was proud to partner in the highly anticipated John Sibi Okumu play, The Kenyan That Could Have Been, which reflected on the life and legacy of Bilda Kaggia, offering audiences a profound exploration of Kenya’s history and the courage of those who fought for justice. At the Wakati Wetu Festival, we joined artists, activists, and communities to imagine a repaired Africa and a future free from racial violence. Through discussions, performances, and workshops, the festival delved into the deep intersections of reparatory justice, creating spaces for dialogue, healing, and collective envisioning of a fairer continent. We also celebrated resilience and solidarity at the Mashujaa Love Concert, a vibrant gathering that honored our collective courage and the ongoing struggle for freedom, equality, and human dignity. These events remind us that art, culture, and activism are not separate, but powerful tools for justice, reflection, and hope.
