Kenyan bloggers and online activists are increasingly finding themselves on the frontline of a dangerous battle for digital freedom, with arrests, abductions, and even deaths rising sharply in 2024, a new report has revealed.

The study, titled Devolved Impunity: The Safety and Security of Bloggers in Kenya (2019 - 2024), details a worsening crackdown on online voices, where legal loopholes, political intimidation, and technology-driven surveillance are being used to silence dissent.

Compiled by Paradigm Initiative, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), and Article 19 Eastern Africa, the report maps violations over the past five years, showing how the digital space has transformed into a high-risk arena for those who challenge authority.

Bloggers now face harassment, cyber threats, arbitrary arrests, and intrusive surveillance, with laws such as the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act being wielded as tools for repression.

At the launch of the report, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, warned that governments are increasingly legalising surveillance under existing laws on terrorism and cybercrime, making "legal what should not be legal."

He noted that in many countries, governments have invested in spyware to monitor journalists and "impede the work that they do."

The demand for stronger protections for online freedoms was echoed by James Wamathai, Partnerships and Advocacy Manager at BAKE, who argued that digital rights are human rights.

"The same human rights should be protected and preserved online," he said, adding that if one section of society is unsafe, then no one is truly safe.

As more Kenyans turn to online spaces to voice concerns, the risks have only grown.

Demas Kiprono, Deputy Director at the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya chapter, observed that digital platforms have become an extension of the democratic space, making bloggers natural targets for those in power.

He stressed the need to safeguard these spaces, review existing laws, and push for reforms, noting that "when you speak about what is happening to you and government programmes that don’t work, you should not be victimized."

The findings also reveal that the shrinking tolerance for criticism is no longer confined to national leadership, as county governments are now taking similar approaches to stifle dissent.

Angela Minayo, Programmes Officer at Article 19 Eastern Africa, remarked that there has been "a shift in the respect for human rights, and intolerance to criticisms," which has now extended to county levels.

A significant point of contention remains the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, which, according to critics, grants excessive investigative powers to authorities.

Minayo warned that the law has problematic sections and that "beyond offences of the act, we should be concerned with the investigative process."

She also raised concerns about proposed amendments empowering the NC4 to block websites allegedly engaged in illegal activities, urging vigilance over such legislative changes.

Despite constitutional guarantees on free speech and past court rulings striking down overly broad laws, the report warns that bloggers and digital activists continue to face arbitrary enforcement of laws, intimidation, and surveillance.

It calls for greater collaboration between civil society, media organisations, and policymakers to create a safer online environment, stressing that the protection of digital rights is crucial for upholding Kenya’s democratic values.