On February 25, 2026, in partnership with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ Kenya), we convened a landmark Citizen Assembly on Elections and Freedom of Expression in the Digital Age at the Mageuzi Hub. The assembly sought to bridge the gap between high-level policy and the lived experiences of those on the digital frontlines, while generating actionable recommendations for legal reform and collective protection strategies.
The event was attended by over 50 citizen voices, including a diverse group of content creators, bloggers, youth leaders, digital activists, legal experts, and media representatives to discuss emerging threats to free speech and the democratic necessity of holding fair elections. The moderator, Florence Kamaitha, opened the session by highlighting how many Gen Z creators have transitioned from lifestyle production to digital activism. She noted that the government often views anyone discussing socio-political issues on social media as a blogger, which necessitates heightened vigilance and critical thinking when engaging with online content.
A significant portion of the dialogue focused on the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA). Kennedy Kachwanya, Chairman of BAKE, discussed the ongoing legal challenges against the Act, arguing that its provisions on “false information” are frequently misused to chill innovation and silence dissent. He noted that the government should not act as the sole arbiter of truth and emphasized that media literacy is a more effective tool for discerning veracity than criminalization. This was supported by insights from Muthuri Kathure,from the Tech Policy Institute who highlighted the need for corporate and platform accountability, pointing to the European Union’s Digital Services Act as a model for holding tech giants responsible for content moderation and user privacy.
Muthuri further expanded the scope to include the influence of global platforms and the threat of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). He cautioned that while social media is a powerful tool for accountability, the platforms themselves are profit-driven entities that require robust regulatory oversight. Activist Boniface Mwangi also added a layer of practical urgency, noting that freedom of speech would face further limitations as the next election nears. He urged the assembly to be innovative in circumventing censorship by building physical, offline communities and utilizing secure, encrypted messaging apps.
The assembly also addressed the practicalities of maintaining democratic integrity during election cycles. Boniface Mwangi warned that politically charged speech is often suppressed on major platforms, suggesting that Kenyans must build robust offline communities and utilize encrypted messaging to ensure information flows freely. Legal expert Dr. Evans Ogada grounded these concerns in the Kenyan Constitution, explaining that while Article 33 provides broad protections for expression, it also contains clear proscriptions against hate speech and incitement. He further noted that the Law Society of Kenya remains vigilant against late-stage amendments to electoral laws, which are often used as tactics to tilt the playing field.
The day concluded with a collective call to action, summarized in a series of actionable recommendations that included:
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Civic Responsibility: Encouraging youth to move beyond online activism
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Creator Ethics & Wellness: Promoting impartiality to maintain credibility and practicing “digital hygiene” .
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Institutional Accountability: Demanding the enactment of pending laws (such as the two-thirds gender rule) and reporting media bias to representative bodies like MCK.
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Legal Protection: Committing to litigation if electoral laws are unconstitutionally amended within six months of the polls.
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Security & Resilience: Building offline networks and using encrypted communication to withstand potential digital censorship or shutdowns.
Furthermore, the assembly emphasized that while digital spaces are vital for mobilization, the actual power of change resides at the ballot box, making voter registration for the youth a critical priority. By the time the meeting closed at 3:00 pm, the assembly had successfully documented lived experiences of repression and established a roadmap for collaborative legal and policy reform.