How Kenyans are using AI during protests

July 12, 2025

Over the past year, Kenyan activists have transformed artificial intelligence from a novelty into a powerful civic tool during protests against the 2024 finance bill. AI-powered technologies enabled activists to translate complex legislation into accessible information, coordinate protest efforts, and maintain communication despite government attempts to restrict internet access. Gen Z and millennial protesters utilized platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, TikTok, and X to organize digitally before taking physical action, creating a movement that combined street demonstrations with sophisticated digital tactics.

Who is affected

Kenyan citizens, particularly those in rural and marginalized communities
Gen Z and millennial protesters who organized the movement
Members of Parliament who received thousands of messages and calls
People with limited literacy or who speak less common dialects among Kenya's 68 recognized languages
Online critics and activists who faced detention and torture (such as Billy Mwangi)
Software engineers and developers creating protest tools (like Rose Njeri who faced charges)
The 50+ people who lost their lives during the unrest

What action is being taken

Activists are utilizing ChatGPT and other large language models to create easy-to-understand explanations of complex legislation
Kenyan developers are deploying sophisticated chatbots built on open-source LLM frameworks to analyze the finance bill in real-time
Volunteers are creating TikTok explainers in different local languages and sign-language interpretation videos
The Masakhane initiative is training open-source NLP models in Swahili and regional dialects
KICTANet, MindHYVE.ai, and DV8 Infosystems are developing draft National AI Policy proposals
Developers are creating safety tools like panic buttons and location trackers for protesters
Civil society groups like CIPESA are advocating for ethics guidelines for AI use

Why it matters

The AI-powered protest tactics have democratized information access, allowing ordinary Kenyans to understand complex legislation and participate in civic action regardless of their location or background. This digital mobilization successfully pressured President Ruto to shelve a proposed KES 346 billion (USD 2.67 billion) tax hike, demonstrating the potential of technology-enhanced civic engagement to influence government policy. The movement has also sparked important discussions about digital rights, privacy protections, and the need for ethical AI frameworks in Kenya. These technological approaches have created more resilient protest networks that can continue functioning even during internet throttling and other government restrictions.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices