Recent protests against proposed tax increases in Kenya highlighted social media as an effective and increasingly powerful tool for activism today.
Daybreak in Nairobi saw the streets taken over by thousands of young Kenyans, mobilized by a collective indignation, but also coordinated through various digital networks.
These social media platforms provided the rallying points and real-time communication channels for the demonstrators enabling them to effectively plan and amplify the focus of their protest – disseminating critical information regarding venues, tactics and news updates – while they were also used for crowdfunding.
Trending hashtags such as #RejectFinanceBill2024, #RutoMustGo and #AngukaNayo were the rallying cries on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram among others.
In particular, TikTok and X helped inform about the controversial tax proposals in the Finance Bill through creative means from AI models to videos in several Kenyan dialects, increasing reach and resonance to diversified audiences.
There was a tragic side to the protests with deaths and injuries, but the outcomes were significant.
They attracted a massive turnout, with people from various social and economic backgrounds coming together to oppose the law. This marked a departure from previous protests, which often revolved political formations with a shift in focus to shared issues impacting daily life, primarily economic policies and government accountability.
More importantly for the protestors, the effectiveness of their campaigning led to the President dropping the contentious bill.
While social media undoubtedly played a key role in the protests there were also notes of caution particularly regarding the dangers of misinformation and the speed at which it can travel on these platforms. False narratives may create tensions, which would discredit real movements; hence, responsible communication and use of these digital tools is essential.
While they have a clear practical use in mobilizing, coordinating, and sustaining movements that bring change to society, they can also be channels to facilitate societal changes and nurture informed and enlightened public conversations.
The Kenyan protests will undoubtedly become a case study in digital activism, but their lessons will have a wider relevance for many organisations and campaigns addressing different and widespread audiences.
