The protesters, mostly Gen Z and millennials, who are now calling for the president’s resignation, began organizing against the budget bill on TikTok and X before taking to the streets. They continue to use social media app features, including Spaces and livestreams, to coordinate protests and mobilize.
Protesters have also used the platforms to fund medical and funeral expenses for protesters who were injured or killed. At least 39 people have been killed in the protests since mid-June, according to a government-funded human rights organization. An online fundraiser run by activist and journalist Hanifa Farsafi, a key figure in the protests, had raised 29.8 million Kenyan shillings ($231,906) from more than 34,000 people as of Wednesday evening.
Lesser-known apps have also seen a surge in Kenya, such as Zello, which protesters use to turn their phones into walkie-talkies. This allows them to quickly share information, including on police movements during the demonstrations.
Kenya is home to 43 different ethnic communities, each with their own language in addition to the official languages of English and Swahili. Protesters also collaborated on TikTok videos translating and breaking down the bill’s proposals into different local languages, helping to reach more people, especially in rural areas. Sign language interpreters also helped disseminate the videos. The videos were also widely shared on Whatsapp, among other platforms.
