Kenya, Tanzania Target AI and Social Media Dissent

By Albert Kasembeli

First, they came for his posts. Then they took his life. When Kenya police arrested Albert Ojwang last week over an alleged social media post, his family expected fines or, maybe, jail time after a fair judicial process. Instead, they got a body.

His death in custody—officially labelled a “suicide” – has ignited fury in Kenya, where authorities are escalating a brutal crackdown on social media critics.

From AI-generated protest art to viral memes, East African governments are responding to digital dissent with batons, bullets, and disappearances. Ojwang’s case isn’t an outlier. It’s a blueprint.

No doubt, a digital battleground is emerging in East Africa as governments intensify their suppression of online dissent, deploying restrictive measures against social media and AI-generated content.

Kenya, long regarded as a regional tech hub, now faces a critical test of its democratic values as authorities target activists, satirists, and tech-savvy critics in a sweeping clampdown.

Kenya’s government is grappling with an unprecedented wave of digital resistance, where Artificial Intelligence tools are being weaponized to challenge authority.

AI-generated protest art, deepfake satires, and viral memes mocking political leaders have flooded social media, prompting a fierce backlash from officials.

Recent months have seen alarming reports of abductions linked to online activism. Cartoonist Gideon Kibet and 24-year-old Billy Mwangi were allegedly seized after sharing AI-generated images depicting President William Ruto in a coffin.

According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 82 abductions have been recorded since June 2024, with 29 individuals still missing. While some, like Kibet and Mwangi, were later released without explanation, authorities deny involvement.

The rise of AI tools such as Grok, integrated into X (formerly Twitter), has exacerbated tensions. These platforms enable users to create hyper-realistic political imagery, including controversial depictions of leaders – a development that has unsettled Kenya’s political elite.

“You’re no longer talking just about AI—you’re talking about AI inside a very popular social network,” said Mark Kaigwa, founder of Nairobi-based digital firm Nendo. “The images generated can be grotesque, but the real tension lies in the state’s response.”

Interior Cabinet Secretary (Minister) Kipchumba Murkomen recently vowed to prosecute those using AI to “threaten others,” signalling a broader regulatory push.

The government is pressuring social media firms to establish local offices for tighter oversight – though Kaigwa notes that X remains the sole major platform without a physical presence in Kenya.

A Regional Trend

Kenya’s actions reflect a growing authoritarian trend across East Africa. Neighbouring Uganda has imposed social media taxes and frequent internet shutdowns, while Tanzania – under the late President John Magufuli and his successor Samia Suluhu Hassan – has been accused of violent repression, including the alleged torture of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi during a court appearance.

Mwangi’s ordeal underscores a grim reality: East African governments are increasingly turning against their own citizens, deploying colonial-era tactics to stifle dissent.

Police brutality, enforced disappearances, and digital repression have become normalized, with victims often met with public apathy.

“The African state polices not to serve—but to suppress,” one analyst observed. “Protesters, journalists, and even ordinary citizens are treated as threats by default.”

Beyond human rights concerns, this repression carries severe economic consequences. Internet blackouts – like Kenya’s shutdown of Telegram during national exams – cost economies billions. More insidiously, they foster a culture of fear that stifles innovation and civic engagement.

“You cannot build wealth where people are taught their lives don’t matter,” the report notes. “Brutality doesn’t just kill bodies—it kills belief.”

Silicon Savannah or Digital Authoritarianism?

Despite its crackdown, Kenya is positioning itself as an AI policy leader, with Special Envoy Philip Tigo engaging global stakeholders. Yet critics argue the government’s approach is selective, targeting only dissent rather than addressing broader AI risks like misinformation.

As tensions escalate, Kenya stands at a crossroads. Will it uphold its reputation as Africa’s tech pioneer, or succumb to the same digital authoritarianism plaguing its neighbours? For now, as Kaigwa warns, “Kenyans are likely to resist.”

The battle for Kenya’s digital future has only just begun.

Investigations into Tanzania’s alleged abuses and Uganda’s internet restrictions reveal a troubling regional pattern. The normalization of state violence—and the lack of meaningful regional outcry—raises urgent questions about Africa’s democratic trajectory.

Albert Kasembeli is a Strategic Communications Consultant and Regional Political Analyst

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