A new report by the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), “State of the Internet in Kenya: 2020-2024,” highlights a paradox in Kenya’s digital landscape: while the country has solidified its status as a regional tech leader, this progress is undermined by diminishing online freedoms and increased government overreach.

• Between 2020 and 2024, Kenya saw mobile subscriptions soar to over 71 million and mobile money subscriptions reach 42.3 million.
• James Wamathai, Director, Partnerships & Advocacy at BAKE, stated that the internet should be a tool for empowerment, not a weapon.
• Repressive laws like the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA) have been used to criminalize online speech, leading to arrests and even deaths of critics.