British tech, state surveillance and repression in Kenya

When: Monday, May 12, 2025, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: BLOC cinema, ArtsOne Building, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road London E1 4PA

The International State Crime Initiative (ISCI) are delighted to host two renowned human rights organisations to discuss Kenya's 'Gen Z protests' and escalating state repression. They are joined by two investigative journalists who recently uncovered systematic state-corporate surveillance in Kenya.

In the summer of 2024, a decentralised mass movement of Kenyans took to the streets to protest the Kenya Finance Bill. Known as the 'Gen Z protests', the vibrant movement - that was mobilised online - took on Kenya’s political elite. In response, the Kenyan state embarked on brutal repression, using live ammunition, enforced disappearance and torture. As the protests were suppressed, an investigation revealed how two British tech companies have enabled mass, targeted and predictive AI surveillance of Kenyans, provoking widespread anger and calls for accountability. The journalists and their publisher have since been met with multiple SLAPP actions.

We are honoured to host former Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, Willy Mutunga (Muslims for Human Rights). He will be joined by Davis Malombe (Kenya Human Rights Commission), who will discuss the broader issue of state crime in Kenya, while Ernest Cornel (Kenya Human Rights Commission) will showcase his photojournalism with an exhibition from the protests. Investigative journalists, Claire Lauterbach and Namir Shabibi will discuss their investigation into the role of British companies in facilitating mass, predictive, and targeted surveillance, and the SLAPP actions they faced, while Mary Kambo (Kenya Human Rights Commission) will discuss corporate accountability. The panel will be chaired by Monika Sobiecki (partner at Bindmans LLP and Doctoral Candidate at QM School of Law).