In 2024, President William Ruto’s administration ramped up its surveillance efforts, making a record 35 requests to Meta for access to user data – more than any other country in East Africa, according to the tech giant’s Transparency Centre report.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, confirmed that it shares user data with governments when legally obligated or during emergencies, as outlined in its terms of service.
Between January and June, the Kenyan government submitted 23 data requests – 19 tied to legal processes and four flagged as emergencies. From July to December, it added 12 more requests, including nine for legal reasons and three urgent cases.
Meta responded to 43.5 percent of the requests, releasing some data to Kenyan authorities.
The surge in requests marks a significant jump from previous years. In 2023, Kenya made just 15 requests, compared to 23 in 2022, 25 in 2021, and 33 in 2020.
Regionally, Kenya stood alone in its high demand for user data. Uganda made two requests in 2024, while Tanzania and South Sudan each submitted one. Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Somalia made no requests during the same period.
Across Africa, Morocco led with a staggering 1,188 data requests. Globally, the United States topped the list with 156,556 requests, followed by the United Kingdom with 21,684.
Meta emphasized that it reviews all government requests for legal validity. The company may deny access or request more clarity if a submission appears too vague or overly broad.
Ruto Administration to Spend Ksh. 150M on Digital Spying Tool as Online Surveillance Intensifies
As Meta reports a surge in government requests for user data, President William Ruto’s administration is now planning to invest Ksh. 150 million in a controversial digital surveillance initiative.
The plan, embedded in the 2025/26 national budget recently approved by Parliament, aims to equip the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) with advanced spyware to monitor what Kenyans post, share, and say online.
The government will channel this funding into Optimus 3.0, a powerful surveillance system designed to track online and social media activity in real time. The DCI is set to receive Ksh. 50 million to procure the Optimus 3.0 equipment, while another Ksh. 100 million will fund operations under a project labeled “DCI forensic lab OPTIMUS 3.0 Social Media.”
Digital rights advocates have raised red flags, warning that this spyware can infiltrate personal devices, extract user data, and even bypass encrypted communications – all in ways that experts argue violate Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
According to cybersecurity analysts, Optimus 3.0 has the ability to unmask social media users across multiple platforms. The system can trace what users post, pinpoint their location, and identify which devices they’re using – all by tracking connection metadata, leaving little room for digital anonymity.
The surveillance system operates without users’ consent and quietly transmits data to third parties – raising serious concerns over privacy violations.
This budget allocation comes at a time when Parliament is gearing up to debate the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a proposed law that has sparked widespread criticism from digital rights advocates and legal experts alike.
Spearheaded by Aldai MP Marianne Kitany, the Bill seeks to grant sweeping powers to the Cabinet Secretary for Information, including the authority to monitor digital communications and compel Internet Service Providers (ISPs), telecom firms, and cyber operators to hand over user data.
If Parliament passes the Bill, the government could legally track online behavior and access subscriber information – without needing a court order. Critics argue this would strip away constitutional safeguards and open the door to unchecked surveillance, threatening freedom of expression and digital privacy in Kenya.
