Post about a breaking news event, share an unverified allegation, or even repeat a rumor in a WhatsApp group, and until this year you could, in theory, have faced up to ten years in prison. That was the potential consequence of Sections 22 and 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, which criminalized the publication of “false” information using broad and vaguely defined offences. The provisions cast a long shadow over anyone with access to a phone or the internet. On 6 March, however, the Court of Appeal struck them down. In a case brought by the Bloggers Association of Kenya, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya, Article 19 and others, the court called them so broad they were “like unguided missiles.” 

In December 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to bar anyone under 16 from holding a social media account. Within a day, its own prime minister was dealing with the predictable result. Teenagers flooded the comment section on Anthony Albanese’s TikTok account, including one that read, “I’m still here, wait until I can vote.” A 14-year-old, in New South Wales, had already told the Washington Post weeks earlier that she planned to log back into Snapchat and Instagram using her mother’s Face ID. On Reddit, teenagers traded tips on beating facial age checks, including printing a mesh face mask bought from Temu. The free VPN app Windscribe reported a 400 percent jump in Australian downloads in the first 24 hours after the law took effect. Leonardo Puglisi, the teenage founder of the youth outlet 6 News Australia, said his platform barely felt the impact at all.

JUNE 2025

World Press Freedom Day and the Media Council Annual Summit this week highlighted the resilience of Kenya’s fourth estate. The publication of a new media code of conduct is timely, given the regular criticism and the current challenges the industry faces.

In a time of mounting challenges to human rights, our collective resilience continues to shine through. This edition of the Amnesty Kenya Gazette is a testament to the power of activism, solidarity, and unwavering commitment to justice. From exposing human rights violations and holding power to account, to standing in solidarity with communities demanding change, we remain steadfast in our mission. We bring you stories of courage—of individuals and movements refusing to stay silent in the face of oppression. We honour those who have dedicated their lives to the fight for justice, even as we mourn the loss of a tireless champion in the education sector. As we turn these pages, let us remember: the struggle for dignity, freedom, and accountability is one we must continue—together, and without fear.

Nairobi, 23 May 2024: Amnesty International Kenya and ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa express deep concern with Clause 63 of the Finance Bill (2024), which seeks to exempt the Kenya Revenue Authority from the provisions of the Data Protection Act. We strongly urge the National Assembly to reject this proposed amendment of the Data Protection Act, informed by the several considerations below.

Thirteen years ago, a brutal assault thrust my family into a world not designed for persons with disabilities (PWDs). A transformative moment for both us and a beloved family member forced us to look for affordable and accessible assistive technologies frantically. With the world rapidly beginning to design and harness artificial intelligence for all areas of our professional and personal lives, it is critical we look at how emerging technologies can empower persons with disabilities or risk them creating even more exclusion and marginalization.

The world is reaping a harvest of terrifying consequences from escalating conflict and the near breakdown of international law, said Amnesty International as it launched its annual The State of the World’s Human Rights report today, delivering an assessment of human rights in 155 countries.

06th February, 2023

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