A report submitted to Parliament by President William Ruto indicates that the government is working to enhance the legal framework guiding digital policing, oversight, and security management.
According to the report, the move follows what the government describes as rising misuse of social media platforms,many of which it says are largely foreign-owned to mobilize protesters, coordinate demonstrations, and spread misinformation, propaganda, and hate speech.
The 2025 National Security Status Report, covering the period between September 1, 2024 and August 2025, notes that protesters relied heavily on social media and mainstream media to organize demonstrations that resulted in injuries to 496 police officers, destruction of 179 government vehicles, damage to 16 government offices, and the arrest of 1,792 civilians.
The report further reveals that police responded to the unrest by arresting 1,732 demonstrators nationwide and that 42 civilians lost their lives during the protests.
Overall, the document records 42 civilian deaths, injuries to 496 police officers and 66 civilians, damage to 142 police vehicles and 22 other government vehicles, and destruction of 88 privately owned vehicles. In addition, 12 police stations and posts were vandalized, eight firearms were stolen, four others destroyed, while 16 government offices, 18 supermarkets, and five banks and micro-finance institutions were looted or damaged.
“Going forward, the government intends to strengthen law-enforcement efforts through enhanced street patrols, the establishment of a dedicated digital intelligence unit, and the adoption of rapid-response mechanisms,” the report states.
It adds that social media and mainstream media “played a significant role in inciting protesters, coordinating demonstrations, and spreading misinformation, propaganda, and hate speech.”
According to the document, 2024 recorded the highest number of protests and unrest in more than three decades, with 2,005 demonstrations documented nationwide. July 2024 alone accounted for 250 protest incidents, the highest number recorded in a single month.
The report attributes the wave of demonstrations largely driven by activists, youth groups, and politicians to growing concerns over the rising cost of living, allegations of excessive use of force by security agencies, and public agitation.
“While the right to peaceful assembly is guaranteed under Articles 33, 36, and 37 of the Constitution, many protest organizers failed to comply with legal requirements such as formally notifying the police of planned demonstrations, thereby posing security risks,” President Ruto noted in the report.
The government says it will continue to refine policies on digital policing, cyber-intelligence operations, and online investigations as part of broader national security reforms.
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