Blogging in Kenya has evolved from personal online journals to a critical platform for news, activism, and public discourse. However, this transformation has exposed bloggers to significant threats, both physical and digital. Bloggers face harassment, abduction, and even murder, particularly when criticizing authorities or influential figures. Digital threats, including surveillance, hacking, and online harassment, are exacerbated by vague cybercrime laws. A survey of bloggers and civil society members found that all respondents had encountered security threats, with 58.3% rating their
safety as “very unsafe.” Legal challenges, particularly under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, further restrict freedom of expression, creating a chilling effect that leads to self-censorship.

The report highlights numerous cases of violence against bloggers, including arrests, assaults, and fatalities. The blurred lines between bloggers, activists, and protesters, especially during political movements like the Gen Z protests, complicate the landscape. Government responses have been inadequate, with county-level authorities often perceived as complicit in blogger harassment. While some interventions, such as arrests and public condemnations, have been made, most bloggers remain unaware of any concrete efforts to ensure their protection. A proposed special police unit for blogger safety has yet to materialize, raising further concerns about the lack of institutional support.