ARTICLE 19 urges African Commission to address protest and digital rights concerns in Kenya
ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa has asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to press Kenya for stronger safeguards against police abuses, digital surveillance, internet restrictions, and the misuse of cybercrime laws.
ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa has raised concerns about freedom of expression, media freedom, digital rights, and peaceful protest in Kenya during the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The intervention formed part of the Commission’s examination of Kenya’s 14th Periodic Report. Under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, states regularly report on the implementation of their human rights obligations. The Commission reviews these reports and may issue recommendations known as concluding observations.
ARTICLE 19 acknowledged progress in Kenya’s legal and institutional framework but argued that significant gaps remain between formal protections and their enforcement.
The organisation pointed to reported cases of police brutality, arbitrary arrests, and the use of lethal force during public demonstrations. It called on the Commission to assess Kenya’s compliance with regional standards on freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
ARTICLE 19 also raised concerns about targeted digital surveillance, possible internet throttling during politically sensitive periods, and the use of cybercrime laws against journalists, bloggers, and human rights defenders.
Internet throttling means deliberately reducing connection speeds rather than completely shutting down internet access. Such measures can make social media, messaging services, livestreams, and news platforms difficult to use during protests or elections.
The organisation further reported physical attacks and judicial pressure against journalists covering demonstrations and conducting investigative reporting. It said weak accountability for such incidents had contributed to a climate of impunity.
ARTICLE 19 asked the African Commission to recommend that Kenya establish independent mechanisms to investigate police conduct during protests and revise its computer misuse laws to bring them into line with international human rights standards.
