Sandra Mwarania

Access to the internet is essential to protect human rights. An internet shutdown happens when an institution—usually a government—intentionally disrupts the internet or electronic communications, rendering them inaccessible or effectively unusable, for a specific population or within a specific region. Imposing internet shutdowns, especially when people are protesting, stops important information from reaching citizens—such as how to find areas of safety or contact emergency services. Shutdowns also prevent international and local organizations from documenting human rights violations—such as killings or the disproportionate use of force by the police or military.

Visa systems in Europe’s Schengen area function like an obstacle course for human rights defenders from different parts of the world, preventing many from participating in key decision-making forums. Our new report is out now. amn.st/601671ZZM

#KeepEyesOnSudan #MySudan #Humanitymustwin

Deadline closes today! Are you passionate about human rights and ready to take your campaigning skills to the next level? Apply now for the Amnesty Regional Human Rights Campaigners Training, a 6-week journey that will empower you to ACT for change. Apply today: amn.st/6016ALmWp

New Episode out now 📻 Tanzania goes to the polls amid a deepening human rights crisis. What are Amnesty International's human rights priorities ahead, during and after the polls? open.spotify.com/episode/6RHn5W…

Dragged into the rabbit hole. New @amnesty evidence of TikTok’s risk to young people’s mental health. #FixTikTok #DigitalRights

Kenyan youth love TikTok—but many say it’s addictive and full of harmful content. Their stories show why we need change. Let’s #FixTikTok and make it safer for everyone.

We have woken up to the news that women were raped in the dark last night because there were no matatus in Nairobi, and churches closed their doors to stranded people. Police officers who patrol the city refused to do their job so that the goons - hired by politicians - could do the worst. Your goon governor has ensured that Nairobi has no street lights so that evil can take place in the dark. We are led by evil, demonic, murderous people. The leadership of our country hates us. They also hate those of us who call them out. Yesterday’s remembrance march was peaceful. Police notifications had been sent, meetings held to discuss the protest routes and agenda for the day. However, state operatives, organised and funded a distraction in the days leading up to the protest, using some hashtags that l will not bother to even mention, but which played a role in the violence that later unfolded in Nairobi. Those hashtags were likely paid for and pushed by the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Pushed by people known for extortion and blackmail throughout their entire lives. It was psyops (psychological operations) designed to give you false hope - an unachievable goal that had no sense nor direction. They somehow succeeded. Please take note of all the accounts that claimed they were at Statehouse, and just know that this deliberate misinformation was state-sponsored. The reasons why Kenyans took to the streets in 27 counties across the country have been overshadowed by the killing, maiming, and mindless rampage that followed. It’s been one year since our comrades were callously murdered in the June 25, 2024 protests. Their families are still grieving for many reasons, one of them being that no one has been held accountable for the killings. The activists that your killer government wants you to hate have stood with the victims’ families from the beginning. We have become part of their families. Most of them wanted to give up on their quest for justice but we convinced them to soldier on. They were wary about opening up old wounds by commemorating the anniversary. The president had promised them justice and compensation, and we had even escorted them to his office on Harambee Avenue in September 2024 and were told we would be given an answer within a month. It’s now been 10 months and all we've heard is deafening silence. Hardly surprising! It took over a month to plan the remembrance march, to arrange counselors for the families, and convince some of them to travel to Nairobi for the commemoration. They did. Some sent their siblings. It was meant to be a day to reflect, remember, and honour those who were snatched from us. We were to deliver a petition to parliament to demand justice, accountability, and compensation for our comrades. As always, the political class hated our unity, diversity, and even the decentralised leadership. They feared the huge support that the remembrance day was receiving from all corners of the country - and so they got busy plotting how to sabotage us. They unleashed their propaganda warriors who turned what had been conceived as a day of remembrance for our fallen heroes into a call for a march to State House. The question was to do what? We held a crisis meeting on Monday because after every protest the known active citizens are the ones who receive the backlash. We get blamed because police murder people. We get blamed when shops are looted. We get blamed for injuries and economic loss. Yesterday, the families of our Mashujaa were stuck on Kimathi Street and some of us, including myself, were stuck on Koinange Street. We had comrades on every street but there was a helicopter giving police an aerial view and we were unable to merge for the entire day. Peaceful protesters couldn’t gather for a few minutes without being teargassed and dispersed. That same helicopter could spot goons but they wouldn’t expose them as they're colleagues working together to achieve the same goal - disrupt the protest. The perpetrators don’t get as much hate and blame as activists. The politicians have discovered that. That’s why they hire goons to infiltrate protests and cause havoc so that we can be blamed for the mayhem. The question begs, whose work is to protect life and property? Police or activists? We have enough officers to protect politicians and their families. Why not deploy police to protect businesses? The answer is simple. They don’t want to do that because if lives and property are protected by the police, millions will march peacefully every day across the country until we get change. In 2 years, Ruto’s regime hasn’t allowed a single peaceful protest that exposes his regime to take place. He has basically destroyed Article 37 of the Constitution - the right to protest. The government propaganda team created a chart claiming some people were receiving money to organise the protests. Some of you believed it. If that’s the case, why can’t the government go after those who are funding? This narrative that mzungus are funding protests is lame. So that they can get what? How do the said mzungus benefit? If Ruto stops stealing our money, and mismanaging our economy, and killing us, how do the mzungus benefit? Muwache kutumia makamasi kufikiria, mutumie ubongo. The hashtags and posters blaming activists for the violence and looting is a deflection. If you believe it, you’re an idiot of the highest order. If any of us organised violence or hired goons, we would be the first ones to be arrested. If we posted inciteful or hateful things like the politicians and government bloggers do, we would be rotting in jail. You don't have to be very bright to figure this out. The youth taking part in the protests are scared but they’re doing it scared. They’re fighting for a better country because the Kenya we have today isn’t working for them, or us. We live fearful for our lives, but we still keep on fighting. We do it afraid. I have taken part in street protests since 2009, the Kibaki days. That’s about 17 years. I documented Mungiki killings and post-election violence during Kibaki’s regime, and led protests against corruption then. I did the same under Uhuru’s government, and it was myself and Hussein Khalid who exposed the River Yala bodies. We even attempted to march to State House 10 years ago but were arrested along State House Avenue. I have been insulted, maligned, beaten, shot, and have continued standing with the truth. In those 17 years, it was only last year that l had to visit a mortuary because a protestor had been killed in a protest that l had helped to organise. Since June 2024, the government has continued to kill protesters and unleash goons on them. It’s calculated and deliberate, to create fear and silence everyone. Over the past year, no one captured on camera killing protestors, destroying property, or looting has been arrested and jailed. The government wants you to hate protests, and protestors so that they can get away with stealing and murder every day. As l write this we have 16 people dead - shot by the police - over 400 with all manner of injuries, and none of them were looting. The message Ruto wants to send is don’t protest or we shall kill you. However, he cannot kill 56 million Kenyans. As we continue to fight for justice, let’s stand with the families of those who were injured and murdered by Ruto's regime. To the young people who fearlessly braved bullets, batons, police on horseback, and water cannons yesterday, you’re the reason Team Courage became Rage and Courage. Kenya will be liberated because of you. I’m proud to be a small part of your movement. To my brothers in the trenches, thank you for being you. Kenya is a better country because of your courage. To the brave women leaders of this movement, l salute you for bringing love, empathy, compassion, and fierce courage into the space. #Justice4OurMashujaa

"When I started to speak up, I became like the hope of so many, that you have this pressure to at least do something for almost everyone that comes to you." @AAgather

🚨.@Amnesty has launched its first ever-ever youth-led report highlighting how online harassment by the Philippine authorities fosters a climate of fear that discourages young human rights defenders from engaging in activism. amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

Urgent reading for all who care about the human rights and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC. And our recommendations to @kajakallas and EU foreign ministers at Monday's Foreign Affairs Council 👉 amnesty.eu/news/drc-urgen…

@amnesty, we call on the Ugandan authorities to: Respect the Supreme Court decision and immediately free Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Lawyer Eron Kiiza and others unlawfully detained. #FreeKizzaBesigye

An in-tray full of human rights crises awaits the next chairperson of the @_AfricanUnion who is set to be elected tomorrow. The new chairperson must stand up for human rights from day one on the job. Full @amnesty statement here: amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

Haiti is facing a humanitarian and human rights crisis, with children at the center of its devastating impact. More than 1 million children are estimated to be living in areas controlled by or under the influence of gangs. Our new report, out now ⬇️ amn.st/6016Iwf3E

It’s #SaferInternetDay ⬇️ Sign @amnesty’s petition to demand TikTok to prioritize young users’ mental health, privacy and autonomy over content interests. #FixTiKTok ⬇️ amnesty.org/en/petition/ma… ✍️

This #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek, let's talk about the potential harmful impacts of TikTok on young minds. In 2023, @Amnesty research revealed alarming findings about the platform’s effect on children's mental health. 🧵👇

It's #SaferInternetDay! Let's talk about making the online world safer for everyone, especially children and young people. 🧵

DRC: Urgent Need for the UN Human Rights Council to Create an Independent Mandate to Investigate Rights Violations and Abuses by All Parties in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

“States and intergovernmental organizations should intensify their engagement at this watershed moment, expose enablers of the current attacks in Goma and beyond." @amnesty SG @AgnesCallamard speaks ahead of joint EAC/SADC meet on #DRC. Read more. amnesty.org/en/drc-regiona…

Ahead of the @jumuiya emergency summit on #DRC, @Amnesty calls on warring parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, they must also facilitate humanitarian access. #JusticeforCongo @WilliamsRuto @PaulKagame @fatshi23 @KagutaMuseveni amnesty.org/en/latest/news…