Today, February 10, 2026, on Safer Internet Day: Kenya marks its 13th national observance under the theme 13 Years On: Reflection, Renewal and Recommitment. It’s a fitting moment to look back at how far our digital space has come and confront the challenges ahead.
When the idea for the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) emerged in late 2010, and the association formally launched in 2011, the Kenyan digital landscape was a far cry from today’s vibrant ecosystem. The primary challenge then was the stark scarcity of homegrown content. Kenyan voices online were few and far between, so over 42 bloggers came together to amplify our nation’s digital presence. Our goal was simple: increase the quantity of Kenyan content and build a supportive community of creators.
In those early days, the online space felt like a quiet Kenyan village, intimate and interconnected, where everyone knew everyone else. The only risks were harmless: forgetting to reply to a Good morning message, skipping a friend’s #FollowFriday shoutout, or not liking a photo of a friend. It was a simpler era, free of the complexities that now shape our digital lives.
Fast forward to 2026, and Kenya’s internet users number in the tens of millions, with penetration rates climbing steadily toward half the population (estimated at over 57 million overall). The surge in content volume, user numbers, and diverse communities has changed everything. Our focus has rightly shifted from sheer quantity to quality and, most urgently, to tackling the growing risks that come with this expansion.
The internet is ultimately a mirror of humanity. What plays out online often reflects and amplifies our offline realities, both positive and troubling. One of the most pressing issues remains protecting children in the digital realm. It’s encouraging to see so many events today dedicated to this cause. I attended one organized by Amnesty Kenya and the Watoto Watch Network, where experts explored the dangers facing young users and practical ways to safeguard them.
Paul Osundwa from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ Child Protection Unit shared a sobering statistic: authorities handle an average of 60 cases of online child abuse daily, a caseload that overwhelms limited resources. Erick Kobia from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) outlined key legal frameworks and ongoing initiatives to protect Kenyan children.
But on this day focused on safety, we cannot ignore the threats to content creators and journalists. Kenyan bloggers have faced severe hardships, especially during the 2024 Finance Bill 2024 protests. Authorities have increasingly used the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act to harass critics, while others, like the late Albert Omondi Ojwang, who died in police custody in June 2025, have paid the ultimate price for online speech. These cases highlight the precarious position of those who hold power to account online.
This brings us to a vital question: Can we truly balance security and censorship? I’ve seen some activists, in their enthusiasm for protection, push for far reaching state interventions that silence dissent, all under the guise of safety. Such moves risk undermining freedom of speech and the press, tilting toward control rather than genuine safeguarding.
As Kenya’s digital space keeps growing, organizations like BAKE must adapt. The work now goes beyond fostering creation to include curation and empowerment: promoting high-quality content while arming users with tools to manage risks. Safer Internet Day reminds us that real progress isn’t just about connectivity, it’s about building a community that safeguards everyone without sacrificing free expression.