The protests that shook Nairobi: Did technology turn the tide?

Human rights organisations report that there were over 335 arrests, 361 injuries, and at least 39 fatalities as a result of the protests.

Reject Finance Bill Kenya
Protestors demonstrate against proposed taxes in the Finance Bill in Nairobi, on June 19.Photographer: James Wakibia /Sopa Images/Sipa/AP Photos
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Florence Naa Oyoe Quartey

Front of mind

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A familiar face on a video call. A trusted voice giving instructions. A social media post quoting a senior executive. Increasingly, these may not be real at all. Thanks to artificial intelligence, deepfakes, convincing but fabricated videos, images and audio, are spreading fast, and their consequences are serious. Dr Áine MacDermott, Senior Lecturer in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics at Liverpool John Moores University, warns that organisations and governments must act now.
READ MORE Continue reading The Deepfake Dilemma: Can technology and law catch up with AI fakes?
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On August 7, 2025, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing it of enabling “vote theft” during the 2024 general elections. He pointed to alleged irregularities in voter rolls in Karnataka’s Mahadevapura constituency, citing thousands of duplicate entries, invalid addresses, bulk registrations, and faulty photographs. Gandhi labelled the claims as the result of six months of research by his team and demanded transparency, including access to digital voter lists and CCTV footage.
READ MORE Continue reading India’s political troubles explained