Plan unveiled for new police unit to monitor Kenyans online

By Newsflash Reporter

The State is seeking to set up a specialised digital intelligence unit to monitor and regulate activity in the online space, a move that has sparked fresh concerns over government intrusion into private communications and possible violations of privacy.

A presidential report presented to Parliament reveals that authorities are also developing rapid response mechanisms alongside a legal framework to support digital policing.

The initiative, according to the government, is driven by what it terms the escalating misuse of social media platforms—most of which are foreign-owned—as well as mainstream media, to mobilise demonstrators, coordinate protests, and spread misinformation, propaganda, disinformation, and hate speech.

Digital surveillance push

The annual State of National Security report, covering September 1, 2024, to August 2025, notes that protest organisers took advantage of social media and mainstream media to rally participants.

“Going forward, the government intends to enhance law enforcement efforts by introducing suburb-level patrols, establishing a dedicated digital intelligence unit and rapid response protocols, as well as developing legal frameworks for digital policing,” the report tabled in Parliament by President William Ruto states. The creation of the new unit is expected to significantly intensify State surveillance, following the recent passage of far-reaching amendments to cybercrime laws that grant the government extensive powers to block websites and online applications deemed a threat to national security.

President Ruto signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Act, 2024, into law on October 15, 2025.

Expanded cyber powers

The amendments empower the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee—largely composed of security officials—to direct internet service providers to block access to websites or applications considered to promote pornography, terrorism, or “extreme religious and cultic practices.” These provisions have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups, who argue they signal an attempt by the State to clamp down on fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression.

President Ruto has defended the changes, saying they are intended to shield Kenyans from cyberbullying and other online crimes. The national security report indicates that Kenya recorded its highest number of protests and riots in more than 30 years in 2024, with 2,005 demonstrations documented. July 2024 alone accounted for 250 protests, the highest monthly figure. According to the report, demonstrations up to August 2025—largely led by activists, sections of the youth, and politicians—were mainly fuelled by the rising cost of living, allegations of heavy-handed policing, and public incitement.

“While the right to peaceful assembly is enshrined in the Constitution under Articles 33, 36, and 37, the protest mobilisers disregarded statutory procedures such as the requirement to formally notify the police of planned demonstrations, thus creating security gaps,” Dr Ruto said. “Criminal gangs and hired goons capitalised on the situation to infiltrate the demonstrations, leading to violence, looting, and destruction of property.

“During the period under review, the commemoration of Saba Saba and the 2024 Gen Z protests culminated in violence, leading to deaths and injuries to both police officers and civilians, and destruction of property.”

Civilian deaths

The report shows that police action during the unrest resulted in the deaths of 42 civilians and injuries to 66 others. A total of 1,732 protesters were arrested nationwide. The unrest also left 496 police officers injured, damaged 179 government vehicles, destroyed 16 government offices, and led to the arrest of 1,792 civilians. Twelve police stations or posts were razed, eight firearms stolen and four destroyed, 18 supermarkets vandalised, looted or demolished, and five banks and microfinance institutions looted. The report further warns that ethnically driven political realignments risk deepening national polarisation and undermining unity.

To contain the unrest, the government strengthened multi-agency coordination, deploying rapid tactical teams and aerial surveillance to enhance crowd control and operational effectiveness.

“To effectively handle the violent protests, the government expedited investigations on perpetrators, mobilisers, and facilitators of acts of lawlessness, leading to 1,732 arrests across the country,” the report states.

Dr Ruto added that the government also pursued political inclusivity, revived youth empowerment programmes such as Kazi Majuu and Climate Worx, and established the Panel of Experts on Compensation of Victims of Demonstrations and Public Protests. “Despite the above efforts, prevailing challenges are undermining government efforts to address the threat. These include continued exploitation of constitutional rights to agitate for frequent protests, political polarisation, and the proliferation of criminal gangs,” the report notes. To counter these challenges, the President said the State would continue promoting dialogue to address public grievances and strengthen the capacity of relevant agencies to deploy modern surveillance and intelligence technologies for early threat detection, monitoring, and assessment. The government is also rolling out human rights-based, de-escalation-focused training for security officers, adopting non-lethal crowd control tools, and reducing reliance on force.

Legal backlash

Former presidential candidate Reuben Kigame and the Kenya Human Rights Commission have petitioned the courts to overturn the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, arguing that it grants the State unchecked authority to monitor and silence critics. The petition challenges a broadly worded clause that criminalises the publication of what the law terms “false, misleading, or mischievous information,” warning that its vagueness effectively allows the regime to decide what constitutes truth and punish dissent.

The law also requires all social media users to verify their accounts using government-issued legal names, a measure the petitioners say enables surveillance, profiling, and intimidation of critics. “The mandatory verification requirement constitutes a blanket infringement of the right to privacy under Article 31 of the Constitution,” the petition argues. “It compels unnecessary disclosure of private affairs and directly violates the privacy of communications.” The petitioners warn that the requirement is especially dangerous in a country where journalists, activists, and human rights defenders have previously been abducted, tortured, or killed after speaking out.