Article
Kenya’s Digital Rights Advocates Chart Path to Safer Online Spaces
Naivasha, Kenya – May 12, 2025
In response to the growing challenges facing Kenya’s digital landscape, over 50 digital rights advocates, civil society actors, peacebuilders, journalists, tech practitioners drawn across the country convened in Naivasha, Kenya from May 7 to 9 for a three-day training workshop on safeguarding Kenya’s digital space. The event was co-created and organized by UNESCO, Internews, and KICTANet under the Social Media 4 Peace (Phase II) project of UNESCO and the KENSAFE project of Internews, both funded by the European Union.
The participants comprised of members from the National Coalition on Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation () coalition and KenSafeSpaces network - representing grassroots civil society organizations from Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nakuru counties. The workshop sessions were carefully curated to explore and discuss emerging issues and reflect on adaptable mechanisms for addressing escalating threats to freedom of expression and digital safety in Kenya.
At UNESCO, we believe that collaboration is the cornerstone of effective digital platform governance. To build inclusive and safe online spaces, we must bring together regulators, civil society, content creators and influencers, and grassroots actors to develop a shared strategy—one that safeguards freedom of expression while tackling the spread of harmful content, particularly disinformation, hate speech, and other online harms.
Over three days, participants engaged in practical, interactive sessions covering critical issues including platform accountability, content moderation, privacy rights, data protection, and citizen participation in shaping digital governance policies.
Victor Kapiyo, Trustee at KICTANet, emphasized the importance of a balanced regulatory approach in platform governance and rights protection in the digital space.
We must continue to protect fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and privacy, while ensuring accountability from digital platforms. A balanced, rights-based approach to monitoring and managing platform performance is essential for a sustainable and fair digital ecosystem.
Expert insights were shared by representatives from UNESCO, Communications Authority, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Build Up, Ushahidi, Mozilla Foundation, among others. Participants also reviewed the draft National Guidelines for Addressing Disinformation, Misinformation and Hate Speech for Kenya and outlined national ICT policy priorities that will guide future joint advocacy efforts by FECoMo coalition and KENSAFE networks. Rosemary Mwangi from Communications Authority emphasized the urgency of participatory policymaking:
Digital policies, particularly those governing platforms, must be inclusive and responsive to the changing digital landscape. Public policy is a dynamic process that requires regular review and adaptation. Ensuring broad participation in policy-making - across all sectors of society - is vital for crafting fair and effective laws that address emerging challenges such harmful content in Kenya’s digital ecosystem.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment by FECoMo and KenSafeSpaces members to:
- Strengthen collaboration and joint advocacy efforts.
- Improve harmful content reporting mechanisms.
- Expand grassroots engagement in policymaking.
- Forge stronger connections with national, regional, and international networks.
The FECoMO coalition and KENSAFE networks are playing a pivotal role in shaping a safer digital future. The real challenge now is to ensure that digital safety does not come at the expense of fundamental rights. The key question we must address is: How can we make the internet safer while still upholding and advancing human rights?
As Kenya’s digital landscape continues to evolve, the workshop marked an important step in empowering local actors to build an inclusive, secure, and rights-based online environment.
The Social Media 4 Peace project, currently in phase II, is a UNESCO EU-funded initiative which seeks to strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online - in particular dis/misinformation and hate speech inciting violence - while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media.
The National Coalition on Freedom of Expression and Content Moderation (hereinafter “FECoMo) is a multi-stakeholder coalition that brings together tech stakeholders, academia, government, think tanks and civil society organizations to foster collaboration in addressing online harmful content, particularly disinformation and hate speech, while safeguarding freedom of expression in Kenya.
KenSafeSpaces Project
The Kenya Safe and Inclusive Digital Space (KenSafeSpace) Action is a 30-month project funded by the European Union, implemented by Internews, Internet Without Borders (IWB) and KICTANet. This initiative aims to amplify the voice, capacity, and influence of Kenyan human rights organizations to advocate for a democratic, safe, and inclusive digital environment. The consortium also collaborates with organisations such as the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), Tribeless Youth, Mzalendo Trust, and Watoto Watch Network (WWN) to support advocacy and research activities.
