As Kenya’s Gen Z–driven protests intensify in 2025, a new form of repression is raising alarm: lawfare. The term describes the use of courts, endless lawsuits, and legal technicalities to silence activists without overt violence.
Human rights defenders and lawyers report that dozens of protest leaders and outspoken youth have been hit with multiple charges, some unrelated to protests, designed to drain their resources and keep them entangled in endless court battles.
Critics say this strategy allows the state to appear lawful while undermining free speech and civic activism. Instead of addressing grievances on corruption, unemployment, and governance, authorities are accused of turning Kenya’s justice system into a tool of intimidation.
For many young Kenyans, the courtroom has become just as threatening as riot police. Yet despite the pressure, civil society groups are pushing back, offering legal aid, solidarity campaigns, and global advocacy to ensure that voices for change are not muted.
Observers warn that unless Kenya re-aligns its justice system with its democratic values, “lawfare” could erode public trust and deepen the standoff between the state and the youth.
